The Glory's Gone

by an Old Disciple

“Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house…”~ Ezk. 10:18

IT REALLY HAPPENS IN OUR DAY ALSO

Many today, as an old friend wrote to me, are on the verge of giving up on the church. You may dismiss this Ichabod (departed glory)  theory, if you will, but I believe it will be to your own detriment. It is a fact that scores of believers are leaving churches, and not all of them can be written off, nonchalantly, as "backsliders." Some of them are spiritual people who, in good conscience, can no longer keep their families in a dead orthodox church that resembles a graveyard with lifeless corpses more than it does a lively body.

THE OLD TESTAMENT OUR EXAMPLE

Because of God’s people going apostate, the prophet Ezekiel tells us he saw the glory of the Lord depart from God’s House: it moved from the altar to the threshold; from the threshold to  outskirts of the city; and from the city to a mountain. This can, and does, happen to churches in the New Testament. Read the last book of the Bible, chapters two and three. I have a denim shirt whose brand name is, “Faded Glory.” This is sadly true of many assemblies today, I’m afraid.

LOOKING GOOD DOESN’T COUNT

Paul tells us, in the last days the apostate church will have, “ A form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Unlike the man with the lost axe head in Elisha’s day, rather than stopping everything till we get God’s glory and power back, we keep up appearance by going through the motions. In spite of the fact, no longer do chips fly and trees fall. To a carnal church appearances are the most important thing!

“Without a spiritual inventory from time to time, your shelves will soon be bare.” (rds)

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