Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“When a Chapel Does not Exist”
“Nothing you say or pay will make it all right; neither bribes nor reason will satisfy him.” – Proverbs 6:35 (MSG)

Beginning with verse 20, the “teacher” has given his best advice in regards to using good judgment when it comes to our lives—relationships, etc. The jest of the messages is this: Not taking advantage of people for one’s selfish purposes because if you do you might find yourself in quite a mess. As I was pondering how to conclude this chapter it dawned on me how easy it is to do what is wrong! To make wrong choices, to follow the wrong path takes little effort. The phrase, “everyone’s doing it” is the epitome of the human condition, and one that seems to have been a part of our thought process from the beginning. The harder path is the one that goes against the grain—swimming upstream as it were! The one that chooses to listen to the voice of truth! And if you have not noticed lately, the world has little interest in noticing the Truth! In fact it seems that it goes out of its way to make finding God—following God even more difficult it that were possible. Let me provide the following example: The United Nations complex sits on sixteen acres of New York City’s choicest real estate, bordering the East River and Manhattan. The lean, immense building rises into the sky, the sun reflecting off its window wall. Bright flags of the nations of the world fly in the breezes off the river; the most prominent is the blue and white UN flag, it s two white reeds of olive branches surrounding the world.
A visitor is immediately struck by the grandeur of the building, stirred by the sight of dignitaries stepping out of black limousines to cross the massive plaza. The visitor realizes that if this place represents the powers of the world, one might well want to see the place of worship, where the nations bow before the One under whose rule they govern.
The information personnel are confounded. “The chapel? We don’t have a chapel. If there is one, I believe it’s across the street.”
The visitor darts across the thoroughfare, dodging New York’s taxis, and successfully arrives at the opposite building’s security-clearance desk. “Well, there’s a chapel here,” responds the officer, “but it’s not associated with the UN.” He thumbs through a directory. “Oh, I see, all right, here it is. It’s across the street—and tell them you’re looking for the meditation room.” So the visitor again dashes back across the street. An attendant tells him that the room is not open to the public; it’s a ‘nonessential area.’”
But the visitor is fortunate for a security guard is willing to escort them to the room. They go down a long hallway and pass through some swinging glass doors. The guard pauses at an unmarked door. He unlocks it and pushes open the door. The small room is devoid of people or decoration. The walls are stark white. There are no windows. A few wicker stools surround a large square rock at the center of the room. It is very quiet. There is no altar, rug, vase, candle, or symbol of any type of religious worship. It is in this void that one realizes that God has been pushed aside and does not exist in this place. (Charles Colson, “Kingdoms in Conflict.”)
What that illustration tells me is when God is pushed out it provides those left in control the freedom to operate according to their own standards and beliefs and as history has so painfully pointed out—the results have not been pretty!
In a way this passage, Proverbs 6:20-35 is more than just being careful to not commit adultery, it is what can happen when we push God out of our lives and seek our own selfish desires. We’ve removed the chapel (or make it a nonessential area) and created in its absence our own set of rules and regulations.
And should we hurt someone along the way—unlike God who is full of forgiveness, mercy and grace, there are those who are not as kind and forgiving and are not afraid to see their own form of retribution used on us.
Conclusion: keeps your eyes, mind, and heart where they should be. That way, you will not have to find a chapel to worship in—it will be within you.
Pastor J. T. Carnell