Gone, With No Remains
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall." (Matthew 7:26-27, NASU)
What remains when the Spirit has left? Rocks, a bit of history, or forgotten memories? Maybe a trace of what was can be found, but generally the living no longer celebrate the what was anymore. At least that is how it seemed when walking among the former monasteries and abbeys of centuries gone by, as we visited those ruins in Ireland. Even the massive cathedrals yet in operation today seemed hollow and just glorified shells of religion.
St. Patrick and a few of his contemporaries brought the Gospel to the Emerald Island, but for the most part, only a statue and some printed prayer cards now for sale offer any resemblance of the truth and life that had then replaced the paganistic beliefs during his time. The shamrock was used to teach of the Trinity back then. But for many, it now is just a nice green plant with three blades.
So what happens when generation after generation forgoes the biblical way of life? You get nothing left but ancient stones and relics from long ago. The lamp has gone out. The Light of the World is no longer sought after nor desired to take away the darkness. What was beautiful at the time has been replaced with a glossed over religion that leaves each person not much better off than the one drinking life away at the local pub.
It is said that God has no grandchildren. Each generation must find the Savior and walk in His ways. You just can’t expect to receive what your parents had and get into the Kingdom by inheritance. Each person must seek and find Him for themselves. Though the previous ones who blazed the trail can instruct and encourage those who come next, it is up to each and every person, in each generation, to know the Lord personally and determine with the commitment to experience His purposes.
Although I was amazed at the extensive wealth and effort it had taken to construct these magnificent buildings that we walked through, I could only think of the lifeless rituals that now take place within them, of those still in use. For those trusting in anything less than the Lord Himself, I didn’t see where they offered much other than a photo to be taken. And with the ever-increasing sparse attendance at the weekly religious ceremonies, while congregations continue to die off, only the tour group tickets seemed to keep the facilities maintained. The populations surrounding the grounds had left their life at these doors years ago, if even then they had once crossed their thresholds.
What hope is there when people cast away that which can bring them the only hope? There is none.
Man will continue to build monuments, grand edifices, and crosses held high into the steepled sky, but unless they establish meaningful foundations in the heart, and that only through the grace of the Messiah, will there be an eternal life that will live long past the daily destructive forces that beat away all of that made of temporal material.
Our hope must be grounded on the Solid Rock, the Person of the Lord Jesus, and not on some religious form within or without. As the author of Hebrews wrote, “And this phrase, “one more time,” makes clear that the things shaken are removed, since they are created things, so that the things not shaken may remain.” (Hebrews 12:27, Complete Jewish Bible) Only that trusted in, or hoped on, of the Lord will remain for good forever.
Make sure your hope is grounded on the sure footing for today and those yet to come. Keep it placed in Jesus Himself, and not in that which man has built, which will be gone with no remains.
Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
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Now Think On This #352 - in the year of our Lord 06.08.18 – “Gone, With No Remains”, Friday, 1:30 pm
Above photo taken by Steve Martin June 2, 2018. Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland)
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