You read the words…”Some assembly required.” You open the box and find several pages of instructions. Do you follow the instructions to the letter, or do you think to yourself, “This doesn’t look that hard,” and discard the instructions?
Some people follow instructions better than others. Some will follow instructions unwaveringly, because they believe they were given for a reason…even if they can’t see that reason at the time. Some will ignore instructions and do it their own way…questioning the reasons for the instructions and seeing them as an impediment to quick results.
In Exodus chapters 25-31, God gives His people very specific instructions on how they are to construct the tabernacle and everything associated with it. God expects His people to follow these instructions to the letter…even though they have no way of understanding all the reasons behind the instructions.
These chapters remind us that as believers, God gives us specific instructions for building our lives, and we are called to follow those instructions, whether we understand the reason or not. If we follow the instructions, we will be shining and meaningful living tabernacles in the midst of a dry and dusty wilderness. If we don’t follow God’s instructions, we will be disjointed and confusing structures that look no different than everything else around us.
We need to take a deep breath, slow down, and carefully follow God’s instructions. It may be hard to see in the beginning, but In the end you’ll understand the reason and be glad you did.
Bret Legg is the Teaching and Counseling Pastor at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, GA.