Parasol of True Worship: Your Divine Covering
We have come to the final elements of our “parasol of true worship.” Each piece of this divine instrument that we have disclosed has represented various essential parts of real, godly worship, and these last features are no exception. 
What are these conclusive components? They are the ferrule, open cap, and triggers.
The ferrule sets at the very top of the tube, and its basic function is to act as a protective cap. In some designs it is an ornate piece which brings character and uniqueness to the parasol, or umbrella.
Setting just a few inches below the ferrule is the open cap, which keeps the top of the canopy in its place and allows for tension of the ribs when the canopy is fully expanded. This is the third piece, briefly alluded to in our third article, that connects the ribs to the tube, or shaft. The other two being the stretchers and the runner.
The triggers (a.k.a: the top spring and bottom spring) are both located on the tube, as well. The top spring is located up high on the tube, just beneath the runner when the parasol, or umbrella, is in its open position. The bottom spring is located just above the handle. Both of these triggers allow the parasol, or umbrella, to open and close. So, what is the significance of these final components to our worship? I can tell you in one word — “faith.”
Scripture tells us: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) What is it that mankind hopes for? Generally speaking, most people’s hope evolves around a better future. Humanity longs to believe that their current circumstances will be replaced by more improved conditions in the future. It’s a sense of aspiration . . . a dream . . . a strong desire . . . want . . . wishful thinking, but for the believer it’s so much more tangible because it is a confident expectation.
You see, the believer’s hope is in the Person, power, and presence of our Creator, Almighty God. It’s not founded upon a wish, but on the promise that God will see His purpose fulfilled in us (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 1:6). God is not an intangible belief; some universal, vaporous energy, or a lofty state of nirvana. No! God is our benevolent Creator; the “Author and Finisher” of all life. God is our self-existing, sovereignly divine, eternal LORD. Believers can depend on Him, and His promises.
Without hope — a confident expectation — humanity could not have real faith. And without faith, believers could not be certain of their future. A future based on the promises of God. Promises which assure the believer of abundant living, eternal life, and righteousness (John 10:10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Galatians 5:5).
Without faith in God, the Holy Spirit, we could not have an assurance of these divine promises (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:1&5). In fact, the Holy Spirit is the promised One of Almighty God (Luke 11:13; John 14:16-17; Acts 2:38). And we must have faith in God, the Son, or we could not receive salvation — our portal to abundant living, eternal life, and righteousness — and we would remain cursed under God’s law (Galatians 3:22-26; 1 Peter 1:3-9). More so, without faith in God, the Father, we could not receive His grace; the benevolent, divine gift that gains us access to Christ’s salvation — again, our avenue to abundant living, eternal life, and righteousness (Galatians 3:11; Ephesians 2:8).
So the next time you reach for your parasol, or umbrella, take time to reflect on the ferrule and open cap at the top of this useful instrument. Take the time to consider both the top spring and the bottom spring — our triggers. Think on how they represent your faith in the triune God.
It’s your faith in the Holy Spirit that will activate (trigger) your ability to rightly worship God. It’s also your faith in Jesus Christ that will gain you access (trigger) to divine righteousness. A righteousness that can only come from God and can restore humanity to a state of holiness. A holiness that will allow us to correctly worship God. And less we forget, without your faith in the heavenly Father (the ferrule and open cap), all of your attempts to worship Him would be in vain because it’s your faith in God that will lock into place all the divine implements of true worship.
So, as we close out this article on faith, I’d like to leave you with these words from the 1990, 4Him song entitled Where There Is Faith. The lyrics are from the chorus and they read as follows:
Where there is faith, there is a voice calling, “Keep walking; you’re not alone in this world.”
Where there is faith, there is a peace like a child sleeping; hope everlasting in He
Who is able to bare every burden. To heal every hurt in my heart. It is a wonderful, powerful place. Where there is faith.
Parasol of True Worship: Your Divine Covering by J.Scott Harden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Based on a work at jasonmin.wordpress.com. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.jsnmin.org/.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
Where There Is faith lyrics and music written by Billy Simon. Copyright © 1990 Benson Records.
If you want to use these lyrics, please contact the authors, artists or labs.
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