There is the element of our ancestor Cain
in all of us, which is presumptive and irreverent. Prior
to personal salvation, we grow our little garden of good works,
bringing the fruit to HIM, and insist that HE sit down to the
greens offered to our idol (us).
"But unto Cain and to
his offering HE had not respect. And Cain was very wroth,
and his countenance fell."
The most assuming among
us, join in our foolish forefather's indignation, when the ONE
WHO ordered, shuns the sacrificial supper we fashioned in the
kitchen of sin.
".... he was afraid, and
said, how dreadful is this place! this is none other but the
house of GOD, and this is the gate of heaven."
We are entertaining a dangerous
flippancy today in our approach to HOLY GOD; and the departure
of HIS glory is preceded only by the departure of HIS fear.
"GOD is greatly to be
feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence
of all them that are about HIM."
There is little left of this in our
churches where the sign demanding: 'Remove all shoes', has
itself been removed:
"... put off thy shoes
from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy
ground." ... and in turn,
we brazenly flitter in and out, tracking the muck of levity
right up to the vegetarian buffets we prepare on a weekly basis.
"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be
established." At the risk
of oversimplifying this, our feet are critical to a walk with
GOD. In today's text, Solomon suggests the
"foot" is but a mode of transport
for the ear, rather than a shuttle for the fools sacrifice.
"THY word is a lamp unto
my feet, and a light unto my path."
The parts of our anatomy, employed as porters to a vain
offering, would be better checked at the door, with our shoes,
that the ear be afforded a leg up in the presence of GOD.
"But the path of the
just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto
the perfect day."
Leave your vegetable stand behind and set your course for
CHRIST, and the supper of perfection HE bids us to.
"... that thou mayest
know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of GOD,
which is the church of the living GOD, the pillar and ground of
the truth."