RUINS!

Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1132 by a dozen Cistercian monks. By the middle of the 13th century it had become one of richest religious houses in all Europe, excelling in farming, lead mining, iron working, stone quarrying, and horse breeding. A profitable money-making enterprise. Far beyond what was necessary for monastic life. Powerful abbots sat in Parliament and wielded much power and influence. But today? A ruin. (The life of the abbey came to an end in 1539 when Henry VIII dissolved Roman Catholic monasteries during the English Reformation.)

It is still a magnificent edifice that I had the chance to visit a couple of months ago. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Part of the grand remains includes a ~200 foot-high tower, now without a top. I was there right after Christmas and the National Trust had wired the tower with speakers. And the King’s College Choir of Cambridge (as close to angelic voices one can get this side of heaven) was singing Christmas carols. Reverberating off those ancient walls, the effect was just … ethereal!

What it must have been 500 years ago! Nothing but ruins today. Even the best, the richest, the strongest can, and do, fall. Into ruin.

True also of believers. Not that they lose their salvation, but, sadly enough, ruins do happen, and shipwrecks do occur, as lives lived lazily and lackadaisically can lapse and lurch into lamentable ruin. And it can happen and occur to anyone. Paul lists some of these deplorable instances:

… Hymenaeus and Philetus,
men who have
gone astray from the truth ….
2 Timothy 2:17–18

… Demas, having loved
this present world,
has deserted me
and gone to Thessalonica ….
2 Timothy 4:10

But the Spirit explicitly says
that in later times
some will fall away
from the faith …
seared in their own conscience
as with a branding iron ….
1 Timothy 4:1–2

Spiritual ruin. The writer to the Hebrews confesses how difficult restoration is for those who have gone astray in this fashion.

For in the case of those
who have once been enlightened
and have tasted
of the heavenly gift
and have been made
partakers of the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted
the good word of God …,
and then have fallen away,
it is impossible
to renew them
again to repentance .…
Hebrews 6:4–6

The slow, steady slide into the sewers of sin. And if we are not careful and watchful, we, too, can go slip slidin’ away.

Therefore let him
who thinks he stands
take heed
that he does not fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12

Paul’s paternal concern for his child in the faith, Timothy, is God’s concern for us as well—that we remain faithful.

This command I entrust
to you, Timothy, my son, …
that you fight the good fight,
keeping faith
and a good conscience,
which some have rejected
and suffered shipwreck
in regard to their faith.
1 Timothy 1:18–19

Vigilant we must be. Sober. Earnest. Persevering.

Therefore, take up
the full armor of God,
so that you will be able
to resist in the evil day,
and having done everything,
to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:13

God alone can keep us secure, safe, shielded, sheltered.

Now to Him who is able
to keep you from stumbling,
and to make you stand
in the presence of His glory
blameless with great joy,
to the only God our Savior,
through Jesus Christ
our Lord, be glory,
majesty, dominion
and authority,
before all time and
now and forever. Amen.
Jude 24–25

Let’s stand firm!