Here’s a quote from a sermon I heard this week by Tim Keller*. It’s based on Genesis chapter 3, which you can look up if you want, but it’s the serpent in the garden story.
“Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; anarchy has been loosed upon the world; that’s what we have now.”
The reason I personally know this to be true? My washing machine and dishwasher broke last week. And while broken appliances are themselves enough of an indicator of the fallen world we live in, I have found that their presence in my home unleashes all manner of sins of the heart. Anger, frustration, guilt and condemnation are just a few of the ways in which I have chosen to respond to the situation.
After about two short days of dealing with broken machines, the monologue in my head goes something like this: “Well, if I give up washing machines and go back to beating my clothes against a rock, I would also have to give up penicillin. On the other hand, the way my family gets head colds and UTI’s, we won’t live very long without penicillin. In fact, if I don’t serve spaghetti for dinner I probably have enough clean clothes to last until the infections get us and we’re all in heaven.” You’re impressed, I’m sure, by my focus on the hereafter in difficult present times. I’m very Pauline that way.
Thankfully, and seriously folks, the One I serve gives life. In the face of every form of death, destruction and the slow trickle of wear and tear, He stands with ice-cream scoops and sterling silver punch bowl ladles and, sure, clean plastic laundry detergent bottle caps, measuring out the life. He pours on rest and refreshment and power and solutions, where before we only stood there pushing plastic buttons that wouldn’t respond.
The Psalms we have been studying in Sunday School are helping me tremendously by reminding me that nature doesn’t break. Trees may die and flowers fade of course, but while God has created them and gives them life, they never just stand there inexplicably refusing to work the way that machines do. You know, you never go to bed when everything is fine and then wake up the next morning and find that that nice tree you love so much that was perfectly shady yesterday just won’t give shade today.
So anyway, you’ll find me in the word on Sunday. I need some more cooling water from the Psalms. Unless, you know, my car breaks. If your car is broken or you are otherwise stuck at home, get into Psalm 19. There are some great truths there about nature and what it says to us about God. Drink deeply and enjoy it. See you soon.
*Tim Keller is the pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Ross quoted him extensively from the pulpit a couple weeks ago. This quote I am using is from a sermon of his entitled "The Garden of God." I highly recommend it, but I can't give you my cd because I enjoy it too much. Anyway, they are his words, used without permission but with a grateful heart and full credit.
