When I was younger, I enjoyed opening a box of Cracker Jacks, because I knew it contained a prize. Truly, I was more interested in the prize than Cracker Jacks. However, I did eat the caramel covered popcorn, though only in recent years have I enjoyed the peanuts.
When it comes to matters of faith, why is it that we come to see, “the box” as the prize, rather than God himself? As you read today’s Scripture, did you notice that Israel brought God’s sacred ark to the battlefield, rather than leaving it in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle? The people of Israel came to see the presence of the ark as a sign of “good luck,” rather than trusting the God who gave the ark as an object pointing to his mercy and forgiveness. We must ask ourselves if we have done the same thing with the symbol of the cross — seeing it as a good luck charm, rather than the chosen instrument of God for the propitiation of our sin.
Israel had allowed idolatry to replace the one true God in their nation, thus the reason they misused the ark of the covenant; the Philistines never truly knew God and thus treated the ark and Israel’s God superstitiously. God will not be mistreated, nor misunderstood — thus Israel’s defeat (1 Samuel 4:10), and the Philistine’s suffering (1 Samuel 5).
No crucifix, printed Bible, church building or any other symbol has any power to save us, or change our circumstances. God alone is the only “object” worthy of our trust. He alone has the power to meet our needs — he gave his only begotten Son to atone for sin upon the cross; he gives us his Word, which will not fail; he sends his Holy Spirit to visit us when we are collectively gathered with his children in the sanctuaries built, dedicated and maintained for his glory. Let us not replace God with his chosen objects — Almighty God is the prize!
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:15a, NIV).
Rev. David W. Davis
