Welcome to Friday Evenings for October 26, 2007

 

Tabernacle of Complacency

Mendell Taylor, PhD

 

“Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here:

And let us make three tabernacles.’”

(Luke 9:33)

 

The disciples enjoyed the supernatural sight on the Mount of Transfiguration. They desired to have it perpetuated indefinitely. Thus Peter suggested that they should build a tabernacle for each person in the Transfiguration, and camp on this holy ground. In this comfortable nest of complacency they could withdraw from the burdens of life and enjoy the prosperity that they felt Jesus would guarantee for them.

 

The cult of complacency is still with us. In the past we have criticized Russia for putting up an “iron curtain” and China for its “bamboo curtain.” But America is guilty of putting up a curtain of luxury, materialism, and comfort. We insist that everything be automatic, air-foam soft, and painless. We want electronic eyes to open our doors, button-operated gears to run our cars, and air conditioning to control our temperatures. We insist that everything be electronic, and whoever comes up with the next high-tech, laborsaving device will be the hero of the hour.

 

In a paradise of comforts we worship at the shrine of the convenient and draw aside from the hurts of a heartbroken world. Mountains of ecstasy are wonderful places to visit, but they are not fit for permanent habitation. If we do not come to grips with the crush and tears of reality, we become flabby in a tabernacle of complacency. The Call is to be strong and courageous in these times of moral collapse.

 

Heavenly Father, I want to be active in faith, not passive in comfort. I want to lead from the front, not follow from behind. I want to be in a place of service to others, not in a place where others must serve me. Forgive me for longing for ecstasy when I need to be sensitive to the needs of other who are hurting. Keep me from being complacent, but expectant in what God has planned for me next. In Your Son’s Name I pray. Amen. 

 

Dr. Mendell Lee Taylor was widely published during his lifetime in Christian higher education, having written 15 books. For 34 years he served Nazarene Theological Seminary as professor of church history and missions, and academic dean. Today’s devotional is from his last book, Every Day with Jesus, completed in 1997. Dr. Taylor passed away in 1999.