Christian Living
I have travelled the world, literally. From USA, Mexico, Cayman Islands, South America, to the United Kingdon, France, to Greece, Cyprus in the Middle East to Puerto Rico, Aruba and most countries in the Caribbean. But I have not been to Italy.
I, therefore, have not seen it, but I am told there is a powerful and rather unusual attraction in the city of Pisa, popularly known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. People come from across the globe to look at this leaning tower and wonder at what is keeping it up. Many are intrigued why it doesn’t fall over. This tower is about 186 feet at its highest point, leaning at an angle of about 4 degrees, and according to Wikipedia, “Construction of the tower occurred in three stages across 199 years. Work on the ground floor of the white marble campanile began on August 14, 1173, during a period of military success and prosperity.”
If you are interested in the finer points of engineering, the reason it does not topple over has to do with the tower’s centre of gravity. When the forces acting to topple the tower is greater than the forces resisting toppling then it will come crashing down.
Here is what is fascinating. The authorities carried out engineering work to underpin the foundation, to make sure the tower stays forever at the inclined position, so that it remains a permanent tourist attraction.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has a rich symbolism, a figure of speech, no less, if you relate it to the condition of humanity.
The builders of the Leaning Tower of Pisa constructed the first two floors plumb and true, and it was only after that that the structure began to tilt as the additional 5 floors were built, making a total of 7 floors overall.
The same is true of humanity, especially as it relates to the first two floors, and the Bible puts it like this:
“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
Yes, God created us upright, straight up, plumb and true, but interventions caused us to go out of plumb, we are no longer measuring up to God’s precise requirements, and we are in danger of toppling over.
But here is something truly remarkable. Although we have become crooked, out of plumb and contrary, yet because of our original uprightness and moral constitution, our divine DNA if you please, we still have the capacity, although bad as we undoubtedly are, to do good things. This, at times, comes as a shocking surprise to many people.
Just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, we are being kept leaning artificially, out of sync with our Creator, out of harmony with his plans. In the case of the tower, it is done by hydraulics under the sinking foundation, but in our case it is the adoption of spiritual blindness.
This spiritual blindness is manifested in the feverish efforts of the unconverted at destroying what is in their best interest. Normal, rational people do not, given a choice, naturally choose the worst option. If God gives you a choice between life and death, as here stated, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19), then why would anyone choose death?
The answer that spiritual blindness is the reason is here stated:
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Sometimes believers get very frustrated when they see ordinary people doing extraordinary foolish things, in an orgy of self-destruction. It is as if the ability to do the most elementary reasoning is taken away from them.
What some regard as a generational curse is merely that victims of bad choices come along, and all over again, make bad choices, and become victims to corrode the next generation.
When does it stop. The curse is broken when the unconverted accepts the invitation of Jesus Christ, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
For Christians, those of us that love the Lord and worship him in spirit and truth, the challenge is rather different.
We are not wallowing in sin, we are not separated from God and in danger of falling into perdition. No, with us it is different, for we are being hammered daily, our souls are worn and weary, we are wobbly at times and can scarcely stand.
At all times, especially in times like now, we need to lean on Jesus. And here is the paradox; when we lean on Jesus, he keeps us upright. If Jesus was not there, then, instead of leaning on him, we would certainly fall; and it is better to lean and rest a while than to fall.
What does it mean to lean on Jesus?
Leaning on Jesus is a testimony of trust. I have seen many a drunk walking unsteadily along the road, come to a utility pole, and lean on it to rest rather than fall over. We as believers need to know whom we can lean on, and trust, and there is none more reliable than Jesus:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Paul reminds us of this when he said, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17)
When we lean on Jesus, making his will our command and guide, then no amount of hassle, or fear, or troubles here and now or in the future, can knock us over and cause us to fall. It is because of this trust that our souls confidently cry, “...when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2)
Leaning on Jesus is a declaration of dependency. Believers will be battered all through their spiritual journey, and that is a certainty. We are no different from the disciples of old and they suffered greatly as chronicled by Paul, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
We are not distressed, we are not in despair, we are not forsaken, we are not destroyed because we rely on God through Jesus Christ for his blessedness, his peace, his joy, and above all his ineffable grace; that sees us through every situation.
Many are those who boasts of their independence and their separation from God; not knowing the dreadful destiny that awaits them. Believers relish depending on Christ and his righteousness to see us through, and we have the assurance, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)
Leaning on Jesus is a lesson of love. They tell us that when two people love each other, and they are sitting opposite each other, they tend to lean forward towards each other. Body language speaks clearly in these situations. Often as the disciples gathered together with Jesus, the Bible says, “Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23)
Leaning on Jesus is not only a right we have, but a privilege. It speaks to relational closeness, but also for communication, to spirit to spirit affinity. This is where the still small voice registers, where we are kept in tune and in love with all Jesus represents. No one can be this close to Jesus and live a life contrary, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
So, the call goes out to the strong and the weak alike, come lean on me, says Jesus, and stop unduly worrying yourself about the things you cannot change, and the multitude of problems out there in the world. Take to heart this verse; and let it be your mantra:
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
The call is made, the wise will take note; and the rest is in God’s good hands.
Enough said.
Books by this author you may wish to read.
THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (e-book)
Volume 1 – Five tough facts to be faced
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YX5NSI
STAND UP TO THE DEVIL (e-book)
Volume 1 – You must first identify him
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BQVLSS
BASTARD: A STORY OF REDEMPTION(e-book fiction)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006OF3SD6
ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD’S CLOCK (Hard copy)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002X78D16
ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD’S CLOCK (e-book)
http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-630-9
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