GOD
“THE STRONG TOWER”
: A CHRISTIANITY
WORTH LIVING
Prov 18:10 (ESV) — The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
Prov 18:10 (NIV) — The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Luke 15: 11-32 (ESV) The Prodigal Son
This paper or work is probably mostly myself preaching to my soul. But I challenge you if you find yourself in any of these circumstances to honestly think about what I am saying. Reflect upon these words and hopefully see that they are scripturally sound. I hope that this will be helpful to you.
I would like you to observe, dear readers, the three or rather two Scriptures I have placed in the beginning. I have chosen two translations rather than just one as they consider two different aspects of the proverb. One being a bit of a stretch of translation and the other only comes from an observation made in my life. I would like you to consider these two verses as I start.
Consider in your mind if you would, a man running down a narrow corridor in a rather intricate building. He has his head downwards and does not even make mental assent to what is in front of him. He instead has his head down contemplating, worrying and blindly pursuing worldly things, that is things that pertain only to this world (money, popularity, work and earthly pleasures) and maybe even preoccupied with his conscience. Since this man does not look where he goes he does not perceive the well-grounded brick wall that is before him and runs right into it head first and falls down. There is of course one very plausible physiological consequence for such reckless action. This man will likely suffer a concussion. I have met many people who have suffered one of these and I know that their brain hardly ever recovers fully, that is to say that they are never quite the same again. Generally getting a concussion means you get them easier and can possibly kill you if you get one too many.
This man will therefore do two things. The man may first perceive that this wall is before him and takes definite action to investigate, finds the door that goes through to the other side and remembers to place his gaze upward from now on. The second line of action (or rather inaction) that a man will take is where he, rather stunned, gets up, makes mere mental assent to the necessity of a helmet, possibly become (more) embittered, and then proceeds on his way left or right and either runs into another wall or rather unfortunately falls down a flight of stairs ending in a possibly more painful and damaging demise (even death).
It is no plain mystery that this work will be an allegory. But I will not strictly draw from that well solely. Scripture is and will be the root. I would like you first to consider and ask yourself this question. What is it to me that Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, was hung on the cross and died, rose from the dead on the third day, ascended to heaven and sits at the Father’s right hand? It is throughout the next few pages that I would like you to consider this and ruminate.
In the image I asked you to consider previously, a man running rather distractedly through the hall towards the wall. What shall we make of this? Certainly it is well known that they perceive worldly things as important. But the most important event (I would argue) in a man’s life is when he has an encounter with God; that is to say that he hits a brick wall. Once a man has investigated fully, with the help of God, discovers there is nothing more truthful or logically more important than God. God shows man that there is indeed nothing filling or life giving outside of Him (Jn 4:14 NIV). God is and always shall be the manner in which a man should seek to find life (Lk 14:26-27, 17:33; Matt 10:39 NIV).
When we finally hit that brick wall we should come to terms with what is in front of us. For if we harden our heads and consider wearing a helmet then we miss the very point of why we ran into the wall in the first place. Furthermore, we should be indefinitely changed. Just in the same way when we encounter God we should be responding and affected appropriately. I would give credit here to Paul Washer who makes a very similar image in a sermon delivered at the youth evangelism conference, 2002 in Montgomery, Alabama. He draws the analogy where he is explaining that he was late to his appointed time for preaching (looking just fine) because of the events surrounding the occurrence of a flat tire. He was in process of changing the tire when a lug nut rolled out onto the road and he went to go pick it up. As he looked up, a rather large semi hit him and that is why he was late. But of course this excuse, as Paul explains, is absurd. For no one who is hit by a semi truck is going to be unaffected. And thus, Paul explains his appearance of being just fine would indicate that it would be a lie to make such an excuse. Consider the events, which befall the man who keeps on going left or right after hitting the wall. The man hardens himself to the reality of that wall. Unless he faces reality, the man will not last. As mentioned earlier, the man will get one too many concussions or encounter a staircase that will be a likely death as stairs are generally not very forgiving and threaten more than just your head (although a brick wall can do the job just as well at the right speed and angle).
How can we view this in light of our Christian life? Can we afford to take the gospel lightly? I should hope not. For if we take the gospel lightly then we rob ourselves of its power. I am no prophet and in this way I will speak from personal experience. If we only make a mere mental assent to the gospel, that is to say we only hold it mentally as theology, then we will not experience it fully. It is in this that I would argue that many of us are not experiencing the gospels power. This is not to say that theology is bad. By no means! But when we hold theology as merely a mental fact, the only use for it I argue is for a bland academic paper. When we hold it absolutely, as the way the truth and the life (Jn 14:6 NIV), it can be used effectively for encouragement to yourself and others. There is a permeating joy that envelops it. And this joy is and can be instrumental and infectious throughout the body of Christ.
For consider the joy that will overcome the man, when he discovers that door, which leads outside of that building. Should we think that a man would not be happy for finding a way out? By no means! He exits joyfully knowing that he can experience the refreshing outdoors and the true refreshing sunlight as opposed to the dim fluorescents that lit the hallway.
The gospel is not only a tool of evangelism it is also a tool of encouragement! Consider Proverbs 18:10 stated at the beginning under the light of my experience at camp. The kind of sign language that was associated with the worship song, that holds the proverb as its root, showed a joy after running into that brick wall (or tower in this case). For when we hold the correct interpretation for the verse the man enters the tower and is “safe” or “saved.” Nothing can besiege it. An even better image that our Lord Jesus came up with was the story of the prodigal son (Lk 15:29-32). The immense joy of the father was fully depicted in his running to embrace his son. God the Father is the very same way with “one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Lk 15:7 ESV). I know this to be true! I have experienced this kind of joy. One boy in my cabin at bible camp was radically changed by the gospel as he accepted it to be true and believed in it and a change in countenance. As I saw it happen, an immense joy filled me to the point where I thought I would explode. I leapt up and ran to a member of leadership walking across the field declaring what had just happened. That joy is accessible to everyone brothers and sisters! Now imagine that happening with this man who has just escaped the grips of life oops I mean death and sees the father running toward him with his arms outstretched and hugs him and then celebrates. Will not this man also react in extreme joy? It feels brothers and sisters that we embody the jealous brother who does not realize all that belongs to the father is his. We do not comprehend the many blessings that we have had while in the midst of the father. Why is this?
In this we should discover that throughout life we should more than realize our dependence upon God. For when we realize our complete and utter dependency on God, we start to realize how He, our good Father, fills our needs as He sees fit to benefit us spiritually. In every single detail we can find God’s providence, goodness and love that characterizes Him and for his many blessings. His joy becomes something we can experience when we thank Him for His care towards us. That man who exited the building should have showed immense joy. What then can be said about the man who exits that building and has no joy? We could say a number of things about this joyless man. He likely is ignorant of the significance of what he has entered into. This would be if by some chance he discovers that door prior to the wall. But as I have more than fully explained, this is highly unlikely. The door is not discovered prior to the brick wall. What can be said of us then who are under the ignorant malady while outside? Why is it that we are not considerate, thankful and joyful? That joy with which we entered into life should not be a moment but a lifetime. And with it we can enter into the mountains and especially the valleys. For we know our good father cares for us when we enter into these times because it is instrumental for our spiritual growth (Ps 23 NIV). The psalmist knows this for he talked about the rod being his comfort. We should share the same comfort in God’s reproof and molding.
Lastly, let us consider what the man’s eyes were fixed upon before all this. He had his eyes fixed upon the things of the world. This is not to say that us Christians (who are not held captive by the prosperity gospel) are necessarily fixed on them as well. No, rather we are more being fixed upon trickier things that take away our focus. Did not our Lord and Savior tell us “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well?” I know well what one of the concerns is of the 21st century North American Christian. Many of us have been asking ourselves about the condition of the church and pointing fingers at those who are responsible. Are we not all responsible? For what good does it do us to continue complaining? I am speaking from personal experience, yet I have observed these conversations for a considerable amount of time. What good has this done us? This surely is a valid concern yet it does not add a single moment onto our life. Why not fixate our eyes in front of us, obey God’s Word, and live out missional lives? We should constantly hold our mandate high as citizens of heaven and follow that perfect and great commission set before us by our Lord and Savior. Let us not fixate our eyes side to side and on the floor. Rather, let us look forward to the open door set in front of us. Let us fixate our eyes on the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, if we do look to the side and notice our brother or sister straying then we ought to restore him/her in gentleness in accordance to the Scriptures (Gal 6:1 NIV) and then continue on the way.
I therefore urge you brothers, sisters or readers. Ask yourself, what is it to me that Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, was hung on the cross and died, rose from the dead on the third day, ascended to heaven and sits at the Father’s right hand? Remember it and be joyful! Consider and count the many blessings that God has bestowed upon you. Finally then, enter into and pursue the kingdom of God. Obey the great commission set before us and run with it to the end.
Sincerely,
Cory Kutschker
(in rf. to beginning scripture) I admit that I chose this verse slightly out of ignorance. For when I checked it out through commentaries and other sources, the interpretation I wished to enforce was not necessarily in line with proper exegesis and hermeneutics. The interpretation I had in mind was sourced from the worship song (which holds the proverb as its base) and the context of bible camp. Through my years of Bible camp I noticed the sign language associated with it. The ESV translation makes a more clear demonstration of the grammar required for the erroneous hermeneutic drawn from it. At camp, I noticed a rather particular sign (continued) associated when “the righteous man runs into it.” The symbol or sign was a use of the heel of the palm smacking the forehead indicating an impact. When “the righteous man runs into it”, the “into” is really an entrance not an impact. It was the impact that I was trying to draw from. The rest of the verse is rather moot. I was told recently that the Hebraic verb form for “safe” could be “saved” as quoted from the song. This was however looked over by two professors so if they are alright with it then I am.
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