Cleaning up the Temple

by Liz Clark

So many Christians avoid the Old Testament. A few denominations teach that the New Testament replaced the Old, so rarely do they ever visit its pages. Some individuals begin to read a book in the Old Testament and get hung up on strange or hard-to-pronounce names of people and cities and give up. Still others don't see any good reason for reading about ancient history that seems so irrelevant in 2001.

What I have come to discover is that if we take the time to wade through strange words and ancient history, we begin to see Holy Spirit shedding His light upon our thinking as He peels away the layers of divine mysteries. How exciting it is!

If we approach the stories as having deeper meaning other than someone's physical experience, we begin to see the spiritual implications. We are amazed to learn that people, places, things, and events were physical pictures of spiritual truths, that we might learn the mind of God.

One such book in the Old Testament is 2 Chronicles. Tremendous treasures and riches are hidden away in this neglected book. The book chronicles only the lives and courses of the kings of Judah who were the descendants of David. I and 2 Chronicles focus on the temple, distinguishing these two books from the parallel historical passages recorded in Kings and Samuel. This book gives us a picture of God's king walking in the light of God's house.

While the Hebrews were wandering around in the desert for forty years, God had commanded them to build a place of meeting for He and His people – a tabernacle – giving explicit and detailed orders as to just how it was to be done. It was portable, and was set up or packed up as they moved through the desert. God was always with them in this "portable house." But now in 2 Chronicles, King David wanted to build a permanent house for God.

Sadly, since David was a man of war and bloodshed, God wouldn't permit him to build this house. Good news! David's son, Solomon, a man of peace, was given permission by God to build the temple according to his father's blueprints.

History and the Bible tell us that this temple, while certainly not the largest structure ever built by man, was incomparably beautiful! The temple was made up of various courts and rooms, eventually leading to the Holy of Holies. On one day each year, only one man could dare enter this space, and no sin could be found in him. Death was sure if sin was unconfessed! This most sacred room was completely lined with solid gold. Every inch of wall space and the one piece of furniture – the Ark of the Covenant (a devotional in itself) – was completely covered with gold. Can you just picture what that must have looked like?

Gold is a symbol of purity; it is precious, costly. For us spiritually speaking, it is the absence of sin. Gold is a picture of God's purity, holiness, perfection. This temple was a fitting habitation for the God of Israel.

"Well, Liz," you might be thinking, "what does all of that have to do with me today? I've never seen such a temple? It doesn't even exist in Jerusalem today? What are you getting at here?"

In Old Testament times, God's presence was manifested as a cloud of glory filling the temple. When Israel was faithful and walked uprightly before their God, His presence was right in their very midst. How awesome that must have been for His people!

Well, God took that temple of the Old Testament and did something mysteriously wonderful for those who place their faith and trust in His Son, Jesus the Messiah.  God no longer needed a building made of wood and metal. He now was going to use flesh and blood. Instead of cold and hard stones, God would use "living stones."

You and I are His temples! I cannot even begin to comprehend such a thought! Holy Spirit dwells within us when we commit to Christ and His work on the cross. But if God was so exact in giving us the details of how the Holy of Holies was to be furnished and how it should appear, I wonder how that relates to us today?

I guess God's temple should be beautiful to His eyes. I suppose it should be fit for a King. Is your "temple" fit for the King? Or, is there some house cleaning to be done within your walls?

1 Peter 2:5 says,  "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."

We read further in 1 Corinthians 6:19,  "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own . . ."

It is so valuable for us to study both the Old and New Testaments, for they give to us a complete and clear spiritual picture of God's purpose and plan for us.

What is in your temple that is grieving God's holy heart? Is it unforgiveness? jealousy? pride or prejudice? sexual immorality?

Perhaps when you were young and ignorant of God's Word, you involved yourself with astrology, tarot cards, fortune telling, Ouija boards, or became involved in secret societies with sworn oaths to someone or something other than to Jesus Christ.

What is cluttering up God's temple? Can He feel completely "at home" within the chambers of your heart? If you have any doubts, ask the Father to help you do some "temple cleansing." Holy Spirit will gently and lovingly guide you through all those dark and hidden places you may have even forgotten. Jesus will invade your soul. It will be so worth it.

As Christians, we desire to feel God's presence and power in our lives. We cry out for His help and protection. We long for intimacy with Him.

Sometimes, our temples are in such disrepair, no King could rule from such a messy throne room. Want to get to that next level of spiritual growth? Want to feel God's move upon your life and ministry? Maybe a little housekeeping is in order. Bet you won't be sorry ;-)

Want revival? Perhaps it will happen when your become a habitation fit for a King.

Liz Clark and her husband, Bob, live in the beautiful mountainous area of Northern Georgia. 
EMAIL LIZ