Man has been living in a ruined mansion from Adam until now. He’s attempted to build impressive towers. He’s rearranged the furniture in Enlightened ways. Progressive & Conservative moralists undertake to rebuild Eden through moral renovation projects. They quibble over the solutions to the perceived problems, brokering fragile coalitions, or DIY-ing as much as they can while in power, only to have the other party undo all the changes once they win back power.
When black mold is found underneath the basement carpet, a pitched battle begins over which color carpet to lay over top of the mold. A leaking sewage line is discovered in the second floor, and marches are organized to show solidarity for which paint to use to cover over the foul water damage. Each group removes load bearing walls, then blames the other group for the collapsing house.
History is a contrast between man’s failed attempts to rebuild Eden, and God’s unswerving purpose to complete a renovation project of His own. He’s taking Eden, and restoring it under a new name: Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Though rebellious men resists God’s efforts to tear down to the studs, scrub out the black mold, jackhammer the crumbling foundation, and fix the leaking roof, His restoration project begins and ends at this table. Here we not only acknowledge our abysmal failure to fix the place up, but we’re shown that only through Christ can this world be restored to a glory surpassing the first glory.
All moralistic efforts to renew the world are futile. It’s only here, upon this cornerstone of Christ, that the world can be made new. The cornerstone is the good news that Christ has died for sinful man, He was raised to give you abundant life, and is ascended to rule the world. From there His people get our instructions for rebuilding this whole place according to His specifications.
So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…
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