No question: we were made for worship; we can't help but worship. The pressing question is what/who are we worshiping? And who ought we to worship? As someone once said, "...the human heart is... a perpetual forge of idols... The 'god' whom man has thus conceived inwardly [in his own image] he attempts to embody outwardly... [convinced] that God is not present... unless his presence is carnally exhibited..." Or as someone else said, "If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" Which ties-in to what someone else said: "Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." So, there's that.
I have a little bit of an interpretation for both. Mine is established in worship, although it is contrary to the One who should be worshipped. In both instances, we find a similarity to the dilemma of these two monuments when we look at the Tower of Babel and the Sphere. When I saw U2's debut, I could only think of one thing, and that was a vision I had of Jesus in the throne room. It was a close replica of the layout of it that was polluted with a testament of excess, pleasure, and self-worship. The same is true of the Tower of Babel. Nimrod was a revered hunter, and they were trying to make a name for themselves that would tell of their greatness, so that everyone would stop and stare, and say, "Wow! What distinguished, intelligent people made such a thing to behold?" This angered God and he confounded the language so that the building would stop. We find the same thing true in Egypt. As Ham's descendants, Canaan, Egypt, Mizraim, and Cush began to develop civilizations and societies consecrated wholly to themselves by erecting pyramids and ziggurats, to reach a status of calling themselves gods, it was the same heart problem, to go the way of Cain and turn their backs on God in their rebellion and serve themselves rather than Yahwe Jehovah. According to the Book of Enoch, the fallen angels began to make weapons of war from the metals of mountains. I can't help but think that this idea carried on and was somehow taught to men to forge swords and shields, chains to bind, and blood to spill. It's a story as old as time itself really. When a fallen angel deceived the first two humans into giving up an already spiritually provided garment, clothed in his glory, to become like God. Isn't it always about what we want, and what we will make of our lives? What if people were asking: "What can I do to serve you Lord?" What if they instead said: "I give my life to you Lord, to use me how you will, by being perfectly obedient to your Word through Christ's teachings and by the promptings of the Holy Spirit." What a world that would be. The truth is, the sacrifice has already been made, and we must die unto ourselves and present ourselves as a living sacrifice in order to live forever with Christ through all eternity.
It is a joy to encounter
your searching mind,
your alive spirit.
Thank you for expanding
my awareness
with your excellent writing.
No question: we were made for worship; we can't help but worship. The pressing question is what/who are we worshiping? And who ought we to worship? As someone once said, "...the human heart is... a perpetual forge of idols... The 'god' whom man has thus conceived inwardly [in his own image] he attempts to embody outwardly... [convinced] that God is not present... unless his presence is carnally exhibited..." Or as someone else said, "If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" Which ties-in to what someone else said: "Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." So, there's that.
This made me think about prayer, worship, and ascension in relation to art and technology. I was reminded of a work by Emily Dickinson.
My period had come for prayer. No other art would do. My tactics missed a rudiment. Creator, was it you?
God grows above, so those who pray horizons must ascend. And so I stepped upon the north to see this curious friend.
His house was not. No sign had he by chimney, nor by door. Could I infer his residence?
Vast prairies of air, unbroken by a settler, were all that I could see. Infinitude, hadst thou no face that I might look on thee?
The silence condescended. Creation stopped for me, but allowed beyond my errand, I worshipped. Did not “pray”.
Impactful. And thanks for sharing! Enjoyed this read
I have a little bit of an interpretation for both. Mine is established in worship, although it is contrary to the One who should be worshipped. In both instances, we find a similarity to the dilemma of these two monuments when we look at the Tower of Babel and the Sphere. When I saw U2's debut, I could only think of one thing, and that was a vision I had of Jesus in the throne room. It was a close replica of the layout of it that was polluted with a testament of excess, pleasure, and self-worship. The same is true of the Tower of Babel. Nimrod was a revered hunter, and they were trying to make a name for themselves that would tell of their greatness, so that everyone would stop and stare, and say, "Wow! What distinguished, intelligent people made such a thing to behold?" This angered God and he confounded the language so that the building would stop. We find the same thing true in Egypt. As Ham's descendants, Canaan, Egypt, Mizraim, and Cush began to develop civilizations and societies consecrated wholly to themselves by erecting pyramids and ziggurats, to reach a status of calling themselves gods, it was the same heart problem, to go the way of Cain and turn their backs on God in their rebellion and serve themselves rather than Yahwe Jehovah. According to the Book of Enoch, the fallen angels began to make weapons of war from the metals of mountains. I can't help but think that this idea carried on and was somehow taught to men to forge swords and shields, chains to bind, and blood to spill. It's a story as old as time itself really. When a fallen angel deceived the first two humans into giving up an already spiritually provided garment, clothed in his glory, to become like God. Isn't it always about what we want, and what we will make of our lives? What if people were asking: "What can I do to serve you Lord?" What if they instead said: "I give my life to you Lord, to use me how you will, by being perfectly obedient to your Word through Christ's teachings and by the promptings of the Holy Spirit." What a world that would be. The truth is, the sacrifice has already been made, and we must die unto ourselves and present ourselves as a living sacrifice in order to live forever with Christ through all eternity.