“it was filled
with people”
-sounds
like standing room only! Compare this to
the few who were pressing forward and the few who made it to the tree of life.
-if
popularity or being mainstream is important to us, we are on a course toward
misery. We will either forsake the
things of eternity or we will live a lamenting life, anguished over our
exclusion from the “in” crowd. The
committed Christian must come face to face with the social reality of being at
odds with the masses of society, with the vogue and the norm. It will be socially uncomfortable to bear the
mockery of the world and to forgo the praises and positions of status bestowed
by society at large. Even more difficult
however, is when subtle rejection turns to ridicule and antagonism. Evil is not content to endure goodness but
works to subdue, transform and abolish it.
Light is not compatible with darkness because of the contant threat to illuminate
and expose the emptiness that darkness masks.
“manner of
dress was exceedingly fine…”
-this
one specific description was used as the illustrator of the character of
people who occupied the building. “Old
and young” describes their age, “mocking and pointing fingers” describes their
behavior, but their manner of dress is a telling indicator of where their
hearts are and what type of people would be found in the building. Are we so concerned with our worldly
appearance/possessions? It may be
painful to consider, but what is the manner of our dress?
“attitude”
-not
simply a behavior. An attitude is more
permanent, more a part of your character.
These are people whose rudeness is strongly rooted in them. They are developed in their behaviors.
“… of
mocking…’
-I
think “mockery” is one of the worst behaviors a person can engage in: it shows many weaknesses: rudeness, judgmental, comparing, no
compassion, accusation, lack of kindness but it is also a sign of a sever lack
of personal substance. They are not standing
tall by their own merits but are attempting to become greater by putting others
down.
“pointing
their fingers at…’
-there
is no question as to who is the object of this (of Satan’s) attack. Furthermore, it is interesting that they do not
find contentment in their own station but rather the source of their focus is
still those who are doing correctly:
Isn’t it curious that the people in the building aren’t having a party
where their focus is each other. Neither
are they doing a thousand other enjoyable things and sharing a good time with
one another. Their efforts and attention
is on those outside the building. There is
no joy inherent to or based within the building!
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