God is Measuring His Temple.
In Ezekiel 40 the Lord appeared to Ezekiel, took him on a tour of the temple and performed a very thorough measuring of the temple. The account of the measuring is so detailed that it almost boggles the mind. I'm sure there are theological explanations about this, but the message that I get is that God is interested in his temple and he is measuring it.
We, the church, are now the temple of God. Eph. 2:19-22 says that the people of God's household are being built together on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus himself the chief cornerstone. "In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Together we're the temple of God, but individually we are also his temple. I Cor. 3:16. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred and you are that temple." Also 1 Cor. 6:19 and 2 Cor. 6:16.
I believe that the Lord is measuring his temple in the time we live. His word is the measuring rod and he is applying to the members of his temple. As we read his word we should let it show us areas where we fall short, and let it correct us; let it wash us by the water of his word. Eph. 5:26. James tells us not to merely listen to the word but actually do what it says. If we only listen and don't do it we're like a man who sees his dirty face in a mirror and as soon as he looks the other direction forgets that his face is dirty. James 1:22-25.
2 Chronicles 3-4 again contains a detailed account. This time it is about the construction of the temple and all it's furnishings. I was impressed with the amount of gold Solomon used in the temple. Everything was covered with gold; the ceiling beams, door frames, walls and doors. The gold used to overlay the inside weighed about 23 tons. Even the nails were gold. Gold in scripture speaks of deity, God's holiness and glory. As God's temple today he wants us to be clothed with his holiness. 2 Cor. 3:18 says we are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. For this to happen we have to cooperate with the Spirit and not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Rom. 12:2.
Pastor Ben is bringing a series on Carnal Christians. I think we have an example of that in John 6. After Jesus fed the 5,000 with bread and fish and had crossed to the other side of the lake, the crowd realized where he had gone and followed him. Jesus told them, "You are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." Later in this chapter Jesus was teaching his followers that he is the living bread from heaven and they must partake of him. They didn't understand that Jesus was not speaking of literally taking a bite of his flesh but believing who Jesus is and spiritually partaking of him. The words that he spoke were spirit and they were life. They grumbled and said it was a hard teaching and many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (These were not the Twelve.)
Heb. 2:1 says "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." Now is the time when God is requiring that we step it up a notch, examine ourselves. Watch your life and doctrine closely. 1 Tim. 4:16. Let the Word of God be a measuring rod for you so that the glory, holiness and beauty of Jesus can shine through you. Let us examine our motives and let the Holy Spirit reveal the truth of Scripture so that we are not found among those who turn back and no longer follow Jesus or follow him afar off. Let's be the temple that Jesus desires so that he can come and inhabit it.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - 2 Chronicles 5-6, Ezekiel 41, John 7
God is good all the time,
Naomi Brinkman
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