Mark Chapter 13: Verses 1-2 (NIV-UK)
As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!’
‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’
1 Corinthians Chapter 3: verse 16 (NIV-UK)
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives among you
Herod’s Temple, as the Temple of Jesus’ day was known, must have been impressive. The waiting wall in Jerusalem, part of the building that remains, gives us an idea of what it was like, and it must indeed have been impressive. Yet it was not as grand as the first Temple built by Solomon. It must have seemed to the disciples that, even in the time of occupation, that it would always be there as a symbol of their faith. Jesus knew different and told them so. Forty years later it would indeed be razed to the ground.
It got me thinking that we need to be careful what we build our hope and faith on. Things that right now seem completely steadfast and secure can easily come crashing down around us. And then how do we respond?
Paul reminded the Corinthian Church that Jesus had sent the Holy Spirit to live in the heart of those who believe in and follow Jesus. That means that we are the Temple of God and need to remember that no matter what comes against us, the Holy Spirit will always remain in us. Our hope and trust should always be in God Himself, not in the traditions, the trappings, the buildings or even the leadership associated with our faith. These can be gone in an instant. Only God will remain and that is worth holding on to.
Dear Lord,
Help me to always put my trust in You and not anything else associated with my faith. Thank You that the Bible teaches us that yesterday, today and forever Jesus is the same and that is something we can hold on to when everything else crumbles. Amen.