No Tools

Over the years, Mr. Bill has had quite a few deer stands -- some ladder stands and some climbing stands.  The newer ones feature some [proclaimed] improvements, however, their basic function remains unchanged.  The purpose of each stand is to put a man [seemingly intelligent] in a tree [as quietly and easily as possible] to sit for long periods of time [as comfortably and safely as possible].  Gee, what more could he possibly need!

 

Man has always struggled with the fact God doesn’t need ++help!  Even in the Garden, pride and trust issues surfaced when man was told he could be LIKE his Creator.  On the Plain of Shinar, man attempted to build a structure reaching to the heavens, proving once again to be discontent with God’s sovereignty.  In Exodus 20:25, God gave specific instructions to the Hebrews regarding the building  of stone altars: “And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”  It seems we’re always anxious to have a hand in “improving” God’s work. Spurgeon wrote, “Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross … instead of improving the gospel, carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all.”  Why do we battle Sovereign God so?  It seems we must have that last word, be on the winning team, show ‘em who’s boss, and twist & turn The Truth to suit our own interests!  In the end, we blaspheme Almighty God and Jesus Christ Who declared in His dying moments “It is finished.”  Complete. Done.  No option for improvement on perfection and completion!  God demanded unpolluted stone altars and so must we put away our tools today, and embrace The Truth of pure Gospel.  Let us turn away our otherwise insatiable thirst for self-sovereignty: bend the knee, bow the heart, acknowledge Christ’s finished work, and find rest in Him now and forevermore.  Trust in God’s finished and perfect salvation!