The beauty of creation magnifies the extraordinary design of
the Creator in the capsule of the universe.
God manifests his glory in this fashion (Rev. 4:11). It is the time of the year when such beauty
in the South is ushered in by spring time.
The unfolding of flowers, grasses, trees, and the like capture our eyes in
the wonderful sight of a rising sun. Every
morning this scene facilitates God’s glory and beauty in creation. On the other hand, sometimes that which has a
desirable quality in a lower sense, has drawn the eye of the passion of men (men
often find beauty in that which falls short of God’s glory), but our God
creates that which is representative of His character and that which is molded
into His likeness.
The Spirit’s presence in creation (Gen 1:2) is magnified in
God’s care and design for the place where His presence dwelt in the tabernacle.
To facilitate His presence, God filled Bezalel and Oholiab in order to build a
place where the beauty of the Almighty may be seen by men (Exod 31:1-6). There appears to be, without question, a
place where the Spirit and the facility go hand-in-hand with the display of God’s
glory. And that would be a noble pursuit even today.
I would caution would-be builders, in the process of
facilitating God’s presence, that there would not be a false mimicking (mocking
may be a better word) of Bezalel and Olohiab.
For where God desires the beauty of His glory to dwell is not primarily
upon brick and mortar, but upon the souls of men and women, boys and girls, who
love Him.
The spirituality of a facility is often an easy substitute
for the more divine spiritual work of leading people into transformation and
growth which can only be accomplished by the Spirit of God. The publication bias that often leaves the
reality of what is really going on in
spiritual growth in our churches needs to be jettisoned for the priority of preaching God’s Word (not
about it in a secondary sense), seeing truly
transformed lives (not just modified ethical living conducive to our culture),
and a passionate care for others by sharing our lives and our Lord. May God’s people never settle for the wood,
hay, and stubble that leaves empty edifices strewn across the land and empty
souls never encountering truth in the life of those calling themselves
Christian.
The spiritual facility where God’s glory ought to dwell is
not just an administrative accomplishment, it is only done through the Spirit
of God in divine measure.
