In Old Testament times God would dwell in the temple. But today God dwells in each of us!
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
What an awesome thought that is. Many times I will think I wish I had lived when I could have seen the seas parted for me to walk on dry ground or a burning bush and the Lord would speak right out of it. But truthfully, I like my life in the here and now much better. We have the benefit of all of us having God with us every day. We can worship Him wherever we are. We do not have to have the church building to do so. I have had many a worship time on my porch watching the sun rise over the lake. But don’t get me wrong and think I am saying we should neglect the church. I don’t think that at all. I love my church and I love corporate worship. But I also truly love that I can have private worship with my Savior and that I don’t HAVE to have someone else go into the temple to consult with God on my behalf. I have His Spirit in me, therefore I am His temple.
But it’s convicting too. Do you think about it? Do you think about the fact that when you leave the church building you are taking God with you wherever you go? If you are a christian then He lives inside of you. He goes with you. We can’t leave Him at home when we go out and we can’t leave Him at the door and tell Him we will be back later. This may be part of the reason that God takes it so personally when we allow things in that will destroy us and our testimony. God is sinless and if it were not for Jesus declaring us righteous by His blood which was spilled for us on the cross we could not be the temple. God could not live within each of us, because He is Holy. In 1 Peter chapter 1 it says “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (v. 16)
So in Ezekiel when he saw in His vision God returning to the temple and he said Jehovah-Shammah, The Lord is There, he was comforted and it was comforting to the Israelites that God’s presence would be with them. But we don’t have to wait for a vision. I love to see the sun shining down on our church building and to think The Lord is There, because it’s like I can see the glory of the Lord all over that building. But really, the sun is shining down on you and on me because that is where the glory of the Lord is now. If you are a Christ follower, if you have asked Jesus into your heart then Jehovah-Shammah~the Lord is there~in you! Walk with Him today. Remember He is walking right within you!
Restore 