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Temple versus Tower

Author: John Enslow

1 December 2006

God made a Temple on Earth, not in the sky. I thought about it: why didn't He allow us to build a skyscraper up in the clouds where we could go and worship Him? I sat in my 21st story hotel room, looking out the window. I watched as a storm came rolling in. I saw the lightning and then heard the rain on the window. Fascinating! In the morning I gazed at the sunrise as it broke through the clouds. Then as the sun rose higher in the sky beams of light began hitting the ground, and then disappearing again with the move of the clouds. Magical! I continue to watch as another front came through, blocking the sunlight and casting a gray haze over the earth. I sat with Him, enjoying the awesome place of beautiful. Why, I asked Him, didn't You allow us to worship You with a birds-eye view, in a building high up? Below is the answer I believe I received.

Man attempted to create a tower. The UN would really like this one. It was a conglomeration of human unity. "Oh how glorious!" "Let's build a global city that will establish us, giving us a name forever. Let's place within it a tower that will reach the heavens, rivaling God himself." Man creates this beautiful tower, I wish it was for worship. I actually remembered it that way as a child. I thought it was about getting up to God to worship Him, for relationship, but it wasn't. It was about power. God rejected man's attempt to build a tower to the heavens. The tower stated man's intention to elevate himself above God. This grip we always try to achieve, the attempt to wrestle from the hand of God His right to rule.

Too bad all this wasn't before the flood. But God in his graciousness later made a Tabernacle out in the wilderness, the place for Him to dwell among man. Later Solomon would build Him a temple, a grand place for Him to dwell among man. The meaning is that man shall not come up to God, but that God will come down with us. With this one act of establishing a Tabernacle, God stated His intention for the salvation of the whole human race. God's wrath in destroying the tower and confusing the language, was not just a random act of violence. It was a statement to the whole of the human race that God had a higher plan, a more excellent design, to bring about a His reign and closeness to man.

Apart from the heart of man, in the heart of God was a loving intention, a statement of His need to be LORD and desire for closeness with His children. The declaration given through His Tabernacle was a peek into a promise of a Savior who would come near: God with us, Emmanuel. Though I live in another century, and I can fly in a plane like the birds in the sky, my attempt to elevate myself to God will always be foiled. God will always, always, always come to me. He is the initiator, the male in this relationship. I can express my desires for closeness and communion, but He is still God, One who must come near. My brick for stone and tar for mortar will not build me a stairway to Heaven. Whether I do it in desire for God or self-exaltation, God would thwart every attempt.

I feel like God's answer to my question is this: we, His children, can never build up, we can only go low. Relationship is a process of descent, not ascent. All my towers to gain His favor, through service, worship, study, giving etc...will leave me empty, defeated and flat. By design, they are supposed to. If I could build my way to God, why would I need Christ. If I could "do" my way into His favor, "work or worship" my way into His presence, "study" myself into knowledge of Him, then why would I need His precious gift of the Holy Spirit, the sacrifice of Christ, or God at all. No, though all these things are wonderful, they cannot be used as brick and mortar to get me somewhere I already am. I have all things in Christ. Because of His sacrifice I am, not will be, in His presence now. What can I build that Christ has not already afforded me. I'll always enjoy the scenic views of the tall building, the beautiful sunrise and the rolling in of the storms and the lightning, but as far as worship of my Lord, I believe I will allow His sacrifice to be enough to build the bridge between Him and me.

Copyright ©  John Enslow