In the Old Testaments, God’s presence was always with Israel in the form of pillar of cloud during the day and pillar of fire at night. However, Israel still forgot that God was always with them. God then commanded to build a tabernacle with a very specific and detailed instruction that had to be followed to be worthy of His presence. This holiest place can only be entered by a high priest alone once a year to give offering as forgiveness of sin; this tabernacle then being replaced by a temple that was built by Solomon and rebuilt again during Nehemiah and Ezra time.
When Jesus died on the cross, the veil that separate the holiest place was torn as a symbol that now there is no separation between man and God. Jesus now resides in our heart. The Spirit of God now lives in us. The temple, which was built by men, was destroyed. People don’t understand that God will only live in a place that is worthy for Him to live. He will not reside in a place that is built by human hand no matter how grand and how beautiful it is.
We have to believe in Jesus Christ and open our heart for Him to come in and enter into our lives. He will not force His way in but gently knock on the door of our heart. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul wrote that we are now the holy temple of God; a temple that is not built by human hand but built by God that is worthy of Him to resides in. It depends on us now on how we live our lifestyle. We as believer have to live a lifestyle that is holy and according to God’s words. We have to prepare the best for Him if we truly love Him and want Him to stay inside of us.
Sadly many believers who accepted Jesus do not live such a lifestyle. Many of us live double lifestyle that is different in the church and outside the church. Sin separates human from God. When Jesus died, He took all of our sins and at that moment God had to leave Him because God is so holy that He cannot be presence where there is sin. Jesus is our advocate who pray for us for our forgiveness of sins. However if we whom have been trusted by God to be His temple, destroy our body by keep committing sins and do not take care of our body, God cannot stay inside of us. The Spirit of God will leave us.
Do not defile our body. Try to live holy and believe if we give our best, the Spirit of God will stay inside of us and keep leading us. Let’s make ourselves a holy temple that is worthy of God to be presence in our lives for He is worth much more than this. Yet He loves us and decides to reside in us for those who will receive Him and prepare the best for Him.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Daily prayer
Lord Jesus, I open my heart for You Lord and lead me to live holy and according to Your word so that I am worthy to be Your temple for You to reside. I am always longing for Your presence in my life. In the Name of Jesus I pray.
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