David wanted to build a house for the LORD. At first glance it might seem to us primitive to think that a stone structure could have any appeal to the mighty creator of the universe. But it did impress Almighty God for it was at this moment that God chose to repeat the Great Promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There must be something more to houses than just 4 walls and a roof in God’s eyes. Certainly to us, food, clothing, and shelter are the 3 basic necessities of life. Is there something more to glean from this daily needs of ours? Could there be some spiritual lesson in the Bible which we learn concerning houses?
Does God Dwell in Houses?
First we can ask, Does God really dwell in houses as David planned for? We read of the great temples of the Israelites and the tabernacle. At the dedication of Solomon’s temple we read in I Kings 8:27:
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?”
So literally although we place some importance on the place of worship it is not where God really dwells. This is also shown in Acts 7:47-50:
“But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?”
Temples Made Without Hands
We’re given a hint as to a temple God might dwell in, a temple made without hands, or a symbolic temple. If God could dwell in a Temple made without hands, . . . then who are the builders? The Bible gives a hint of who these builders are in Acts 4:10-11:
“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of You Builders which is become the head of the corner.”
Is this figurative? By glancing at verses 5 and 6 we see Peter is addressing the rulers, scribes, the high priest and his kindred. These are the same men that Jesus rebuked as binding heavy burdens on others but never willing to lift up one of their fingers. Certainly these men would never be found with a hammer or saw in their hands! So these are builders figuratively who didn’t have the sense to use the best stone of all in their building. We are the builders in this same sense, constructing a house or Temple, not made with hands, but in thoughts and actions. At least we have had the sense to use Christ as the chief cornerstone, but as we’ll see the construction doesn’t stop there.
Spiritual Temples
So, unfolded before us is a beautiful symbol of each worker in Christ Jesus, choosing the cornerstone of Jesus in baptism and proceeding in the building of a spiritual ‘Temple. This Temple being fitly framed together by all the brethren and sisters is to make up a Holy Temple in the Kingdom for God to dwell in. This is no humanly devised symbol for what has just been described is even better described in God’s Word in Eph. 2:19-22:
‘Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
A few observations can be made.
- To choose Christ is to build on the foundation of the prophets and apostles.
- God truly does live in this habitation. This is a great privilege we enjoy. God wouldn’t dwell in the magnificent Temple of Solomon, or the Temple rebuilt by Ezra and his zealous followers, or Herod’s Temple . . . but He will dwell in our Temple if it’s built right.
- This building is under construction Right now and the work is not to stop for any reason.
Another scripture to look at is 1 Peter 2:5-8.
“Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient. Whereunto also they were appointed.”
Additional observations can be made from this.
- Spiritual sacrifices are to made in these houses. Years ago God would send fire down from heaven to show that a sacrifice was acceptable. Sometimes we would like to have such a dramatic display from God ourselves. But isn’t this promise of acceptance in 1 Peter just as sure an acceptance as fire from heaven? Are we giving God the best of our time, efforts, creativity, and affections? These are the offerings that are to be made right now during our construction work.
- Our house will be offensive to others. No doubt about it. It is just the opposite of the way we wish our residences to look to our neighbors. At our house we don’t want to create an offence by painting the house fluorescent pink to cause scorn. We don’t load up the front yard with what most people would hide in the garage: things like an old sofa, a worn out washing machine, rusted gardening tools, or an old fish aquarium. No one likes to create an eyesore for others. However our Spiritual habitation will cause offence to others if it’s built like Peter describes. If we never cause an offence, we never attract attention by our spiritual house, if our spiritual house is instead hidden in the garage: we are not built correctly.
Blueprints To Success
In the scriptures we are told clearly and concisely how to build this house. One of the most beautiful passages which says it so well and lays down the standard is Psalm 15. Note that tabernacle corresponds to a temple.
“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart, He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he honoreth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”
Many words have been written since to say what this Psalm does in such a concise way. This goal to dwell on God’s holy hill, to be the kind of person described here is certainly a worthy goal. With this picture in our minds, these blueprints for God’s Temple, it is possible to become a habitation for our Creator.
A builder is handed a set of plans from an architect. In a few months you can expect that the architect will, be anxious to go visit the finished building to see how it turned out. Wouldn’t it be a surprise, if when the architect arrives to inspect the building he finds that the building has only 5 floors when he had designed the building with 8 floors. Then when looking around for the underground parking lot he is shocked to see that the builders didn’t bother to dig out a parking lot before laying the foundation. The plans were watered down, simplified, and many corners cut so the building ended up differently than intended. If we water down Psalm 15 in our lives we won’t end up with a building fit for a Temple.
Repairing A Fixer–Upper
If we stop to reflect on our lives and on the standard set by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and the standard set by Psalm 15, we all stand condemned, for our houses are a long way from looking like they ought to. Our craftsmanship has been less than perfect. Where does that leave us ?
- We can keep working at it, using the original plans, hopefully fixing up the botches we’ve made and work towards completion.
- We can give up construction . . . it’s just too hard.
- We can keep on the job, however we’ll just have to live with some of the imperfections as they are. After all, the house is still comfortable and maybe we can finish some of the easier parts.
Brethren and sisters, this third option is dangerous and scary. It exists in the brotherhood as I have heard this attitude expressed openly and without shame. Some have no intention of fixing up certain portions of their spiritual temples. It’s one thing to fall short and ask for forgiveness which will be granted. But it is completely different to shorten our goal to something simpler. WHY? because we can’t be repentant or forgiven for the shortcoming. If we have lowered our mark, whether we meet this mark or miss it, it is impossible to ask forgiveness for something we don’t intend to try for. It’s dangerous because you have just Signed Your Own Death Certificate. Forfeiting repentance, means forfeiting forgiveness, means forfeiting your life.
Some Examples
- Oncers — Here’s a person who builds a nice house but devotes only one room to Sunday . . . On Sundays they occupy this room, however the rest of the week they ignore this room and do as they please in the rest of the house. If this oncer has no intention of opening up more of his house to God, he is as Good As Dead, having forfeited repentance.
- Rumpus Room Person — Here’s a person who faithfully builds a house and because he has done such a nice job he adds on a special treat, a rumpus room. Of course the rumpus room is off limits from the temple portion. Each of us may have these special treats we’ve secretly kept and cherish. We know they do not belong in the Temple of God but they’re so difficult to tear down. “Well it would be fanatical to give up everything when I’ve given up so much already” we might say. When we have no intention of changing & feel our faith should not restrict this favorite thing, we are assured of Eternal Death! At our residence there is some painting that needs to be done. It is my ambition to eventually do this painting. However our concrete driveway has some quite large cracks in it, but I never intend to tear out that concrete and fix it. The car can still be parked in the driveway and I don’t see any reason to fix it if we can still use it the way it is. There is a world of difference between the two attitudes as far as our walk in the Truth is concerned. How can I be sorry for the “cracked driveways” in my life if I never plan on fixing them? This concept of Not limiting forgiveness is so important.
Bringing Out The Dirty Laundry
The Bible also likens sin to dirty laundry. Starting the week at the memorial service and the beginning of each day in prayer, we have clean clothes. But as the day wears on those clothes may start to get soiled and we will need forgiveness through repentance to get clean again. But the air can get stale really fast if we refuse to wash certain clothes we wear. Of course we hide this dirty laundry under the clothes that are visible to others. However what we display to others is not what God is limited to see. We’re told in Hebrews 4:12-13:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerned of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
We have each other in this project. Each of us are to be fitly framed together and so we exhort each other to place the vision of the completed Temple in our minds. We need each other, to help in consulting the blueprints Christ left for us . . . hammering up shelter from troubles outside . . . hand in hand with Christ opening up any closed doors or gates in the house for his occupation . . . searching for areas that need repair . . . and helping those who are wearied in the work by giving a hand.
Now’s The Time
Probably right now you are in your living room at a quiet part of the day. Although this is not the memorial service it is a time you can reflect on the sacrifice and redeeming blood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. At this very moment you can be assured of complete forgiveness, full repentance is all that’s required. In Jesus’s ministry we are shown graphically that it was just as easy for him to forgive a lot as to forgive a little. Can’t it be just as easy for us to repent for a lot as a little? Hebrews 12:28 says:
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One