When I saw the Notre Dame Cathedral‘s destruction, I was immediately flooded with scripture. I also thought of the time and talent put into this building... years of hard work. Gone. The sacrifices made, the commitment made, the unions and vows made, the historical value ...and Oh, only if those walls could talk. Many of my friends have visited here and I have not, many posted heartbreak toward this beautiful building which portrays so much meaning and culture.
What could God be revealing to us through this tragic loss of architecture and artifacts?
Here are some scriptures:
1). “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”(Matthew 10:28). This verse kept ringing in my head over and over as photos popped up. Why Am I talking about the body? Because we as believers are the body, the assembly, the church of Christ. Whether it was an evil act or an accident done to this cathedral- all things fade. We don’t fear the external. All good, ceremonial, religious, and beautiful things will fade (1 John 2:17). The world and all things in it pass away.
2). What lasts forever? God’s Word. The photo I have pasted on this post is of the Cross. What was done on the Cross lasts forever. Once we submit our lives to the atonement and the Cross, we live as the church of Christ. The building is only a symbol and shelter. We as believers now represent the assembly of Christ’s likeness within us. Just as the physical cross posted on this photo could potentially be demolished with a human power, but didn’t in this flame, the meaning of The Cross within us never can be destroyed. The Word of God that is alive and active in our lives can not be destroyed (Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 40:8). It’s not the building or the structure that holds the most powerful meaning. It’s not even this cathedral that holds the most beauty (although it is breath taking). It is the relationship we have with Christ in us... (the assembly, people of Christ, the body of Christ, His people). That message lasts forever. His message. He paid for our past sins and future ones too.
3). Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:10, Ephesians 4:15), and for this reason we need not grow in despair. He is the the head and we are His people (Hebrews 8:10). “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39. Wow, so much hope.
4). There’s a ‘New Assembly‘ coming. Many itch, twitch, and hate to talk about what’s to come. The most common and important element/topic to any human fear is what’s after this life? We know nothing lasts forever in this world. But, there is a new heaven and a new earth (for those in Christ Jesus). We will be in an assembly not on our own but in the presence of Jesus. Can you believe, this beautiful cathedral ‘ain’t got nothing’ on the beauty we will see when in the presence of our Lord! Just as the Lord allowed this symbolic cross inside Notre Dame to sit perfectly safe among the ruins, the Lord offers humanity to sit in His perfect shelter among the ruins of this world one day too, this all because of what He did for us on The Cross. (Revelations 21). There is peace in knowing the visible church can be destroyed but the invisible never ever will be.
photo credit: CreditPool photo by Christophe Petit Tesson, NY Times Photo