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poeticpreacher Dec. 1st, 2006 09:39 pm)
poeticpreacher Dec. 1st, 2006 09:39 pm)I-beam
If you have ever seen major structures with roofs or ceilings supported by metal beams, you have probably seen an I-beam, so-called because the beam is shaped like a capital "I" from the end view. It is a relatively strong structure. But a wise builder will not put excess stress on it. It is designed to hold up quite a bit of weight from above. However, here is a short list of how that beam can fail:
1. Bad materials. Cheap steel will result in dangerous fractures.
2. Twisting. If the the structure it supports is designed poorly, forces will twist the beam slightly and weaken the structure.
3. As 9/11/01 showed, fire & intense heat can weaken the structure.
4. But the most dangerous possibility for failure lies in the stresses side to side.
5. The safest way to fasten an I-beam is with rivets rather than welding.
But who cares about a silly I beam. Beginning engineering students know all of these things. Let's look for a moment at what we can learn from the wisdom of design:
A. God has designed us to receive the "pressure from above" and His pressure to us is normally in terms of grace and compassion. He does not put more on us than we can bear. We must first receive God's gentle pressure and placement in His temple to have any real purpose and relationship with the Divine Order.
B. If we are to stand strong through the storms, we need good materials as our constitution. The Word of God must inform and structure our lives. We must have a good character to last long.
C. We must beware of twisting God's design. If we twist God's word, we will fail and fall short of God's glory to the point of destruction. We must handle God's Word accurately and rightly divide the True Words.
D. We must be protected by the blood of Jesus from attacks that would consume us with fire. If we are to meet code standards, we must not be high and mighty, but humbly serve the Lord & submit to His standards.
E. We must also build one another up in love as each part is fitly joined to the other. Most of the damage that takes place in the church is not persecution or circumstances, but when saints bite and devour each other through gossip, bitterness, lovelessness, and isolation. So let us love one another deeply, from the heart.
F. Finally, we must join ourselves to one another by being rivetted together through His covenant. Fleshy welds will not do. And let the covenantal rivets be strong and sufficient for the weight of glory which God puts on us. A single rivet may fail. A double Rivet is stronger. But a joint that is triply rivetted will not easily shear away.
G. Because of the strength of such a beam, I am reminded of what Jesus said, "I lay my life down and take it up again." In building temples in the New Testament time, the word for cross (stauros) could also mean foundational beam. A well joined I-beam was laid down in the cross and in the resurrection, that same "I AM" holds up the roof. Let us enter into His presence and join ourselves permanently to the Lord of Glory.
If you have ever seen major structures with roofs or ceilings supported by metal beams, you have probably seen an I-beam, so-called because the beam is shaped like a capital "I" from the end view. It is a relatively strong structure. But a wise builder will not put excess stress on it. It is designed to hold up quite a bit of weight from above. However, here is a short list of how that beam can fail:
1. Bad materials. Cheap steel will result in dangerous fractures.
2. Twisting. If the the structure it supports is designed poorly, forces will twist the beam slightly and weaken the structure.
3. As 9/11/01 showed, fire & intense heat can weaken the structure.
4. But the most dangerous possibility for failure lies in the stresses side to side.
5. The safest way to fasten an I-beam is with rivets rather than welding.
But who cares about a silly I beam. Beginning engineering students know all of these things. Let's look for a moment at what we can learn from the wisdom of design:
A. God has designed us to receive the "pressure from above" and His pressure to us is normally in terms of grace and compassion. He does not put more on us than we can bear. We must first receive God's gentle pressure and placement in His temple to have any real purpose and relationship with the Divine Order.
B. If we are to stand strong through the storms, we need good materials as our constitution. The Word of God must inform and structure our lives. We must have a good character to last long.
C. We must beware of twisting God's design. If we twist God's word, we will fail and fall short of God's glory to the point of destruction. We must handle God's Word accurately and rightly divide the True Words.
D. We must be protected by the blood of Jesus from attacks that would consume us with fire. If we are to meet code standards, we must not be high and mighty, but humbly serve the Lord & submit to His standards.
E. We must also build one another up in love as each part is fitly joined to the other. Most of the damage that takes place in the church is not persecution or circumstances, but when saints bite and devour each other through gossip, bitterness, lovelessness, and isolation. So let us love one another deeply, from the heart.
F. Finally, we must join ourselves to one another by being rivetted together through His covenant. Fleshy welds will not do. And let the covenantal rivets be strong and sufficient for the weight of glory which God puts on us. A single rivet may fail. A double Rivet is stronger. But a joint that is triply rivetted will not easily shear away.
G. Because of the strength of such a beam, I am reminded of what Jesus said, "I lay my life down and take it up again." In building temples in the New Testament time, the word for cross (stauros) could also mean foundational beam. A well joined I-beam was laid down in the cross and in the resurrection, that same "I AM" holds up the roof. Let us enter into His presence and join ourselves permanently to the Lord of Glory.