Take A Knee to the Right Tree

     We must be careful to worship respectfully. Not only must the focus be on Jesus, but anything that distracts from him is irreverent. Care must be taken to worship the Creator rather the creation, "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever" (Rom 1:25). 

     Some have exhorted that lie; they claim worshiping Jesus is worshiping "the creature." We know from John chapter 1 that Jesus was not created, but always was! John said that the one that comes after him was before him. Jesus was not created in Mary's womb but his birth was an unveiling; God showed His face to mankind. Jesus pre-existed his own birth. To infer that he is a "creature" is irreverent. Islam has done just that! 

     "The creation" is material substances and the creature is mankind who works them by human hands. For instance, gold is part of the creation, and fabricated idols are works of the creature. Jesus worked miracles. They were not by the works of his physical hands, but the spiritual "finger of God" (Exod 31:18) with which God wrote the Ten Commandments in stone. The stone is part of the creation and must not be worshiped, but a place of worship. If mankind had cut the Ten Commandments, that would be worship of the creature.

     It is imperative that objects made by hand must never be venerated. Our own hands pollute what is God's work. The stones were turned by God's hand, and to add anything to them which takes the focus off God, and puts it on men is irreverent. God was very clear about that:

God said to Moses, "And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted (profaned, irreverent) it. (Exod 20:25; parentheses mine)

     Throughout scripture, altars were always of stone or dirt with one exception; the Ark of the Covenant - an altar to God - was an intricate work of men's hands with elaborate materials. Thereon, there was a place for the King! The Ark is symbolic of His throne in Heaven, and may be the "footstool" which is written (Isa 66:1; Acts 7:49). It seems that God defied Solomon, who had profaned him, by building for himself a royal throne and footstool from the spoils from the Queen of Sheba. Solomon's "altar" was to himself, made at his own direction, and came from his own wisdom.
     The importance of not using tools to make altars was re-stated in the Book of Deuteronomy chapter 7, "There shalt thou build an altar unto the Lord thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. Thou shalt build the altar of the Lord thy God of whole stones." That was so as not to profane the altar of God. We find later that Joshua followed the directions precisely that was laid out by Moses (Josh 8:31-35). It is extremely important to do things God's way, and not get in his way!
      Christians may think that this is merely the commands of an Old Testament Creator God to suit His fancy. It must be remembered from the Book of John chapter one, that the Word of God who gave Moses and Joshua directions is Jesus Christ. Altars made by the works of men's hands are not right in the eyes of Jesus. Why not? Paul referred to the rocks of Calvary as the altar: "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle" (Heb 13:10), and the Jews who failed to accept Jesus were not to "eat" (bring their offerings) there.
     Standing prominently in those rocks - the very "place of the skull" of Adam - was the "tree" on which Jesus was crucified. On that cross was a sign placed there to profane Jesus; on it was written, "King of the Jews." Solomon thought he was! He made an altar to himself. When I look toward the cross, I don't see that sign; I see "The Tree of Life."  What stood between the altar on Calvary and Jesus? The works of men's hands. The cross was made by the hands of men, not even to honor Jesus, but a "tree" built on which to despise God.
      The Tree of Life was a natural and spiritual tree which is symbolic of Jesus as can be seen in the Book of Revelation. The "tree" on Calvary was where Jesus was dishonored. Perhaps the hewn cross represents the knowledge of man and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. That seems plausible because Jesus was the Tree of Life. It seems that mankind hung him on their tree. (The Serpent should have rightfully been there.)
      Jews always needed something to stand before. They were not satisfied looking from their tabernacles at the "Cloud" who Moses worshiped. They always needed an image. Moses held up a brazen serpent on a pole. Rather than Jesus, it was the Serpent crucified. When I look upon the crosses which Christians venerate, like the Hebrews who were healed from poison, I don't see Jesus on it; in my mind's eye I see Satan and him crucified vicariously on his Tree of Knowledge.
    Jesus's purpose was to kill the Serpent. He did that on Calvary. Satan still goes to and fro, but he has already been spiritually slain by God, and merely awaiting the formality of death. It seems that we must not venerate the cross - empty or with Jesus thereon, because that profanes God's purpose for coming. God has a temple and it is in every true Christian, and the altar is wherever men bow. The cross has become mere jewelry - the works of men's hands. True altars are not the works hands, but the finger of God. God's "finger" of flesh heals, not the cross.
     In summary, the Fifth Commandment is a reminder of that. Taking the Lord's Name in vain, is taking Jesus's sacrifice profanely. It's his death and resurrection which provides faith. The cross had little to do with our regeneration. It was just a tool as were the centurions and Pilate. Perhaps we venerate the wrong "tree."