By Lynette Samuel
Lighthouse Faith by Lauren Green got me thinking about the incredible structures I had the opportunity to visit in my lifetime. Prior to 9/11, having dinner at Windows on the World, towering 107 stories high above the ground, offered a spectacular skyline view of Manhattan. It is an experience that I will always cherish. While visiting Haiti, I saw first-hand the crude shacks made of sticks and tarp, erected to house a family and all their belongings. Clean and well maintained, it was important that every precious item have its place especially with the limitations that such a makeshift space could provide.
In Plain Sight
Green wrote Lighthouse Faith to show just how much the laws of God permeate everything around us and that He is actually hiding in plain sight. She says that God is so big and so small at the same time that He’s easily overlooked.
For the book, Green interviewed Michio Kaku, a physicist and rock star in the science world. His theory is that all buildings are held up by the Pythagorean theorem which states: given a right triangle with sides a, b and c where c represents the hypotenuse (the longest side), the sum of the square of the two sides (a squared plus b squared) is always equal to c squared or a2 + b2 = c2.
If Kaku’s assessment of the Pythagorean theorem is correct, then the right angle (four of which form a cross of perpendicular lines) is literally holding up every building and structure. Cathedrals, cottages, towers and temples are all held up by the mathematical relationship expressed in the Pythagorean formula. Green believes that this mathematical fact governs architecture and is tied to the fundamental symbol of Christianity: the cross.
This lends acknowledgement to The God Particle, authored by Leon Lederman, whose premise is: “just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there’”. Today, architects use computers to calculate equations. Some of our modern buildings have unique shapes; twisting, even circular in design. And although there are no visual cornerstones in these creative structures, their ability to stand still depends on unseen weights and counterweights. Green states, “Because of the relationship between the structure’s angles, it’s implied; it’s there holding the structure in place even though there’s no visible right angle ~ in other words, a cross shape. It’s still there holding things up.”
Every Edifice
She continues, “Every synagogue, every mosque, office tower, cabin, house, shanty, shelf, table, bed, or chair is being held up by the cross.” It is this natural law that architects must abide by so that structures do not crumble and fall.
Buildings are constructed with an intended purpose; they have a functional use. Is it a home, a hospital, a church, a stadium, a supermarket, or a specialty shop? The structure is first designed and a foundation is poured. The framework is erected and sided. Electricity, plumbing, heating/air, and a waste management system is installed. Finally, it is furnished and occupied.
Living Temples
The cross is the Christian symbol and represents where Jesus was crucified. It is because of the cross and resurrection of Christ that we are a house made alive according to 1 Peter 2:5(NIV) You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Our bone structure is covered with skin. Inside that frame, organs pump life throughout our body. We, too, are a building ~ a temple, and like a home, we are not empty or unoccupied. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians. 3:16 AMP)
Thousands of years ago, King Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem ~ a place for God to dwell and when that magnificent place of worship was completed he said, “…heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!” (2 Chronicles 6:18 KJV)
Yet He chooses to live in us.
Ever Present
The cross is everywhere. Even nature abides by certain mathematical principles. Trees growing up from the ground also adhere to Pythagoras’s equation. Their roots must be deep enough to counter balance the angle by which the trunk and branches reach up and out.
So, whether in plain sight, worn as jewelry, hidden in the structure of an extraordinary edifice, or obscured in our natural surroundings, the cross (where Jesus gave His life that we might live) is ever present, germane, and paramount in our everyday lives.
… looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work] (Hebrews 12:2 AMP)
Newsboys, the rock band, says it so eloquently in song ~
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The Savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word
We look to Jesus, keeping our eyes on Him; He carried the cross and died on the cross. It is a symbol of power and life. Jesus conquered death and the cross offers hope. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that it is Jesus who upholds all things by the word of His power…(KJV) The Amplified New Testament translates “upholding” as “sustaining” ~ it is an act of continuity and maintaining ~ ever present.
We may not see Him, but He’s always there.
About the author:
Lynette Samuel is a speaker, writer, and founder of Apples in Silver whose mission is to be intentional about making our world a better place, one word at a time. She enjoys reading, outdoor activities, and spending time with her family. Visit here to explore the healing power of words and sign up to receive anecdotes that will encourage and inspire you to encourage and inspire others. https://www.applesinsilver.