I just took a moment to check the delivery status of a recent book order. I was a little surprised and disappointed that it had not yet arrived in my mailbox. Can you relate?
In this day of digital communication and online shopping it is not uncommon to want an immediate response and speedy delivery, receiving an order in less than two days and without any additional shipping cost. We have been conditioned to think that we are entitled to a response that is quick and painless. Sadly, our world doesn’t revolve around us nor does time bend to our bidding.
God is the one who holds the planets in their orbits, creates galaxies and stars, and knows every moment from beginning to end. The remarkable reality is that when it comes to Israel and the church, God has unequivocally shown Himself to be bound to His people, working on their behalf and for the sake of His glory. Throughout the Old Testament we find the human authors declaring that God’s steadfast love is everlasting. God is unalterably loyal, protective, faithful, and true. We can conclude from this, that God’s aforementioned work is certain.
This should be fabulously comforting to the church! In and through Christ, God grows us “into a holy temple in the Lord” (see Eph 2:19-21). Eden, the Tabernacle, and the Temple at Jerusalem all point to the temple that is Christ and His Church. The Old Testament spaces are examples of God’s very presence taking residence among His people. With the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus, God again has moved into our neighborhood. He inhabits you and me. How easy it is to forget this! Paul pointedly asks:
“… do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:19-21).
So, let us be patient with one another as God continues to transform each one of us. At the same time, let us long for our church to be built up in beauty as it welcomes God’s holiness, glory, and steadfast love.
Exodus 34:6 (ESV) – “The Lord passed before [Moses] and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…’”