Recently, when traveling through the rural outskirts of a large metropolitan area, we noticed that many acres of fields, formerly used to produce rich agricultural harvests, are now displaying large “for sale” signs. One particular phrase we saw, printed in large, bold letters and repeated on many of these signs, read, “Will build to suit.”
And so it has been for about 6000 years now—beginning with Cain who willingly went out from the presence of the Lord—man has been building this world to suit the desires of his heart.
He is determined to create a system—whatever the cost—where he might have at his disposal everything he lost in the garden of Eden. Cain began by building a city—a place to suit the heart’s desire of each soul—a place built apart from any reference to or thought of the rights of his Creator, God.
He wants a constant, reliable supply of necessary things (such as food and clothing) so that he will not have to trust the God he willingly turned his back on to care for him. So he looks to those who dwell in tents and have cattle to build a world of plenty.
Willingly alienated from God and feeling his want of joy and rest, man turns to those who handle the harp and organ to build a world of heart satisfaction.
He expects the marvels of science and industry to ease the burdensome toil his sin caused. No expense or energy are considered too great to set aside God’s judgment of his disobedience: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” He eagerly turns to every artificer in brass and iron to build a world of comfort and convenience.
Many times in the sad history of this world, his wicked avarice and lust have driven him to oppress his fellowman. The stronger forces the weaker into cruel bondage, compelling those miserable slaves to build treasure cities where he stores the abundance of his conquests and domination.
He marks all these achievements by erecting monuments to their glory as he unceasingly strives to build a unified, global economy and world—a tower of Babel—that will shut heaven out of his thoughts and life. Motivated by the wicked pride of his heart, having built these shrines, man arrogantly says, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?”
Thus it is that man has become a builder rather than a worshipper. Attempting to create whatever holds promise of fulfilling the emptiness of his heart—a void that none but his Creator can fill—he continues his building. The awful lie of his godless world system promises to build for each soul whatever is thought will suit the yearnings of a barren heart. Thus the world continues to brazenly place that hollow promise—will build to suit—on its for-sale sign, ever enticing men to believe its lie.
What a great price is exacted from those who have been deceived into futilely chasing after the empty promises of Cain’s world!
Most tragic of all is that man in dark unbelief willingly turns away from the only One who is able to build for him every lasting satisfaction, joy and desire that his empty heart could ever want—the lowly carpenter from Nazareth (Mark 6:33Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (Mark 6:3)).
This humble, blessed Jesus—divine, eternal Son, God manifest in flesh, now seated as man at God’s right hand in glory—is the foundation, the chief cornerstone upon which God is building and accomplishing all His eternal counsels. Further, He will perfectly build to suit what is best for each one who turns to Him in honest repentance and faith. But what the divine carpenter builds, unlike that fleeting impermanence of all man’s efforts, is everlasting—fully glorifying and satisfying to the heart of God.
That such a divine, marvelous opportunity to possess lasting peace, joy and happiness is so blindly rejected provides stark proof of the impenetrable moral darkness of the human heart. Blinded by his sin, man sees no beauty in the Lord Jesus Christ or in His building. Except for the mighty working of the Spirit of God “who commanded the light to shine out of darkness” and “hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:66For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)), man would forever remain in his helpless, hopeless condition of ruin and separation from the God who loves and desires to bless him.
Oh! that each redeemed soul might break forth in praise to God for His sovereign grace which has so perfectly and freely built our eternal blessing.
Ed.