Rebuilding after torn down

In the last month of 2019, my neighborhood was hit by a powerful tornado. Some of us no longer could live in our homes for a period of time; others of us were able to get tarps over roof damage until these could be replaced. Seven months have now passed and I have watched houses gutted and rebuilt, others were bulldozed down and rebuilt from the ground up; some are still not in their homes but construction is ongoing weekly. Being one of the truly blessed, I never had to move and 90% of my repairs have been done. There are a few more to do but, currently unemployed, I have delayed those that are cosmetic for a bit until the pandemic eases and finances improve (new job).

Since I have been “sheltering at home” for the most of this time because of the pandemic, I have observed the number of companies and workers required to tear the brick from a home and take a house to the very basics before rebuilding could begin. As is expected, there were demolition crews, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, roofers, brick masons, cabinet companies, air conditioning and heating companies and finally landscaping companies that laid new sod. It has been an eye-opener in ways that I simply hadn’t thought about before. Oh, I knew these various specialties were involved but this has been very different than a new construction.

Watching this has stimulated reflections of how a Christian grows from a new believer to a more mature Christian, and how many levels of building is needed to gain even the most meager level of understanding our spirituality. While those that have had a lifelong association with a church may have heard “basics” throughout their lives, sometimes verses that may be a part of whole we are may never have been explored in the context of building to the depth of the deep levels of community that is required to aid us in our being built to a solid house of God. Watching the destruction before the rebuilding and the many levels of expertise required to rebuild made me think about how humans sometimes have to be torn down before we can be rebuilt and reflect the life of Jesus.

So many times, I have heard Bible scholars quote verses and I made a quick connection to the concept with a short association and then just moved on. [ Luke 6:48 8 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” My quick take was probably something like, “Got it. Read the Bible to get a good foundation in place. We know that.”

Most of us probably don’t stock any literal golden calves in our homes but we probably do have some idols that need to be demolished. The tearing down of our own “idols” is a hard pill to swallow sometimes and, truth be told, this really hurts sometimes. Sometimes, we are tempted to cry out that we think it is totally unfair that we have to suffer so many losses and struggles. Actually, the fact is that some of us are living quite comfortably in quite comfortable homes and driving quite comfortable cars and have enough clothes in our closets to wear something different and stylish for 30 days in a row. We dine on a variety of foods and drinks, play in recreational spots for a minimum of one week a year, and socialize with others just like us. We have a variety of entertainments at our fingertips every single day: television with hundreds of stations, books of all kinds to read, crafts to play with, flowers in our yards to delight us, sports equipment and toys for adult enjoyment, and much more. The point at which these wonderful things become idols instead of blessings is when we give them a greater value than living our lives in ways that mirror the examples Jesus gave us. Sometimes, we have to tear down these idols to begin again.

I am guilty.

Each board in a storm-ravaged house was not always torn out and thrown away. The framework was sometimes left in place in some houses as these were rebuilt. Each house was different. Some needed a great deal of demolition and others has a great deal that was still very serviceable. Also, the houses were not rebuilt by one type of construction company and crew. A whole community was needed to end up with a good house after rebuilding The plumbers were not required to also be electricians, and the electricians didn’t have to know anything at all about brick masonry. Roofers didn’t have to also be architects and be able to draw up the plans for the finished product. And, it didn’t happen overnight; it has taken weeks and even months to rebuild. It took a community of people with many different skills and many different small parts to do.

I have to daily look at the idols that I overvalue and learn to tear these down one day at a time. I have to first recognize that I am giving my own needs more value than loving God and loving others. Until I see what is wrong, I can’t tear down my idols. In the same way that the house hit by the storm was first planned by an architect, I have to see that we humans are equally important to our Father God and to Jesus Christ. I have to understand also that we are not the same and the plans are never the same. I can’t do everything that is needed to build the house of God, but I can do little tiny things. There are others who can do what I am able to do and some of them will do a much better jobs. Not all roofers are the same but each is needed and each needs to learn from others who are doing a better job. Sharing our God-given talents means that we teach others, not just exercise our talents. It’s a dual role of doing plus sharing the know-how.

Philippians 2:3-4 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

I am no expert in anything. I don’t have all the answers. In fact, I have very few of the answers but God does. Sometimes, when reading God’s word, I get a hazy image of what the answer is but I don’t always know for sure that is the answer. I am so imperfect that I have to read it in different versions, look for it in different ways or ask others who understand better than I do. Some of us study the origin of words; some are diligent in always researching the context of a passage; some of us have made a profession of studying everything about the books of the Bible. We are a community.

Proverbs 28:26-27

If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.

There are dozens of parables in the Bible, dozens. Why? Is it because we of finite minds have trouble understanding infinite truths and applying these in our lives? Is it because we each are different and need different examples before we can get to that “AHA” moment? Is it so that we can demolish ourselves and rebuild after the removal of aelf-idols, one at a time? My answer to all these questions is that I am not qualified to second-guess Jesus and the ways of God. I simply don’t know it all. What I feel in my soul is that this is when we have to rely on faith which is trusting God’s way is perfect and knowing that all He says is true. I rely on John 3:16: For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. ... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. This is my foundation. This is my encouragement that over-valuing self as an idol can be demolished.

One day at a time, I can again regret my distractions of my own wants and desires. I can every morning re-commit my life to learning and renewal. I may fail many times, but I can rebuild many times because God is gracious. He has a plan for each of us. He knows that we are trainable and knows that we are prone to making ourselves our own gods. One day at a time….

(Message version) Psalm 199:60 Because you have satisfied me, God, I promise to do everything you say. I beg you from the bottom of my heart: smile, be gracious to me just as you promised. When I took a long, careful look at your ways, I got my feet back on the trail you blazed. I was up at once, didn’t drag my feet, was quick to follow your orders. The wicked hemmed me in—there was no way out— but not for a minute did I forget your plan for me. I get up in the middle of the night to thank you; your decisions are so right, so true—I can’t wait till morning! I’m a friend and companion of all who fear you, of those committed to living by your rules. Your love, God, fills the earth! Train me to live by your counsel.

Said another way (New International Version):

I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. 59 I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. 60 I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. 61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. 62 At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. 63 I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts. 64 The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.