"As Is" Condition

^“If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.” Exodus 20:21

Cut stones can be beautiful.  Just ask any girl with a sparkle on her left hand.  But when it comes to altars, God likes rocks in the rough.  ^“If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it”(Ex 20:21).  This instruction followed up the Ten Commandments and explained how the Israelites were to worship the One who was to be first and only.

But why did God not want tools used on the stones?  The rocks would have stacked better and looked nicer if the rough edges were hewn off, but God demanded that they be brought unrefined.  Profound theological explanations for this command most likely abound in commentaries, but here are my common sense reasons:

Perhaps God knew if He let His people chip away they might focus on the beauty of the altar or on the craftsman who had the most balanced stack of stones instead of on the One for whom the altar was built.  

Possibly He felt that His people would be easily distracted by trying to be the best sculptor or build the best structure and that they would get caught up in comparison instead of adoration.   

Or maybe God didn’t want His people trying to fix up what only He could make right.  Cutting and chiseling might make the altar more presentable, but only God’s presence would make it perfect.  Nothing they could do would make anything more worthy of the One whose value is beyond measure, and nothing they built could ever be good enough for a perfect, holy God.  So He said to bring the stones as they were.

He wants us to come the same way too.  It’s the only way, really.  Oh, we try to dress up, cover up, fix up, and straighten up our own offenses, but none of us will ever make ourselves good enough for the perfect God.  I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t bring the best of our time, talents, and treasure to the Lord, and I’m not stating we shouldn’t repent of our wrong and confess our sin.  I’m simply saying that forgiveness and “fixing” is only found in Him, and any attempts at self-improvement will only divert our faith and distract our focus.

I’m saying that we shouldn’t try to fix the mess we’ve made ourselves or made of ourselves, but, instead, we should bring our failures, faults, and fiascos to our compassionate, gracious God and let Him do the work.  His presence, given through the Spirit by the sacrifice of Jesus, is what makes us holy—nothing else will help, no matter how hard we try.

“As Is” condition is the only way to approach.   

S0 come as you are and let God make you holy.