At first, they thought the Notre Dame Cathedral fire would destroy the historic landmark. But, in the end, much was saved; including the cross, which seemed to glow through the smoke; and the crown of thorns, believed to be the one Jesus wore at His crucifixion.
Reportedly, the cathedral housed what is said to be the very nails
and a piece of the cross, Jesus was crucified on; and a stone from the sepulcher where He was buried.
The blaze destroyed the 850-year-old oak roof and spire; however,
the twin bell towers, made famous by Victor Hugo’s tale, “The Hunchback of
Notre Dame” survived.
Notre Dame Cathedral may be the most iconic church for Catholics,
second only to, St. Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City.
Typically, between Palm Sunday and Easter, they’d be
preparing to display artifacts from the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Instead, they’re being transferred to the Louvre Museum.
Although somewhat in shock, restoration plans have already
been set in motion and over 300 million has already been pledged.
Was it arson?
The timing and current events, lend to that idea.
Over ten churches have been hit since the beginning of
February. Some set ablaze, others severely desecrated. In the Church of
Notre-Dame-des-Enfants in Nimes, near the Spanish border, intruders drew a
cross on a wall with excrement then, stuck consecrated hosts to it. On March 17th,
St. Sulpice, the second-largest church in Paris, after Notre Dame Cathedral,
had the large wooden door set ablaze.
Raymond Ibrahim at Gatestone Institute reports, “There is a
creeping war against everything that symbolizes Christianity.” In almost every
instance, there is an “eloquent silence” among authorities and media, regarding
the identity of the vandals.
Who’s doing it?
There are clues.
"Crosses are broken, altars smashed, Bibles set on fire, baptismal fonts overturned, and the church doors smeared with Islamic expressions like 'Allahu Akbar.’" writes Ibrahim.
It’s not just overseas.
Palm Sunday, Midway Presbyterian Church, in South Carolina, had three of its 125-year-old windows broken and "Submit to God thru Islam" and "Muhammed is his prophet" spray-painted on the outside.
Statistics show a corresponding uptick in vandalism to
Christian symbols with an increase in muslim migrants.
But there's more to it than that.
But there's more to it than that.
It’s not as simple as telling Christians to stand up, speak out, or, “make people
uncomfortable” as congresswoman Ilhan Omar stated in her CAIR speech. (Council on American-Islamic Relations; an organization with ties to Hamas, the Palestinian terror organization.)
Muslims aren’t the problem. Or Migrants. Or blacks. Or Whites. Or reds. Or blues. Baby-slaughtering abortionists aren’t either. Or that twisted man that threw a five year old boy off the third floor balcony in the Mall of America. Corrupt, dishonest politicians and lawyers are not even the problem.
All those, are symptoms.
“Be not deceived.”
That’s what I heard when I prayed this morning. Well, ‘heard’
may not be the right word, but it fits…it’s more like an inner-hearing.
Those words came back to me as I followed up on the events
of the Notre Dame fire.
I remembered Jesus said something about, not being deceived,
so I looked it up. It’s recorded in three of the gospels.
What I found interesting is that it was the first thing
Jesus said when the disciples asked Him about signs of the end.
“What will be the sign
of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus answered, “See
to it that no one deceives you.”
What’s even more interesting (considering our subject) is the context of His statement.
His disciples were marveling at the temple structures. Jesus wasn’t
impressed by buildings, temples or cathedrals, and He told them, “one stone won’t be left on another.”
That prompted His disciples to ask about the end of the age.
Jesus told them to be not deceived.
Damage to the iconic marvel of the cathedral, is not what grieves
the heart of God, but the deceit in the heart of man that would destroy it.
The problem is Eden. The fall.
We all carry the disease.
We all have access to the cure.
His name is Jesus.
Last week I wrote of the rhino poacher killed by an elephantand eaten by a lion. How, Trump has been referred to as a rhino and how, Isaiah
34 speaks of the falling of the rhino and the end of time, judgement of nations.
This week as we celebrate the death, burial and
resurrection of Christ, we see set ablaze, the very location where artifacts from
the death, burial and resurrection of Christ are stored.
Is God speaking?
Is the enemy deceiving?
Are we listening?
To whom?
1 comment:
Such a timely and thought-provoking reflection, Doug. Yes, since the Fall, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Jesus is the way, truth, and life. May those who are deceived by the promises of this world be convicted.
Blessings!
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