Challenged Champions For Christ Bible Blog 5.

                                            A House Of Living Stones.

You also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices holy and  acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

It was in Rome around  AD. 64-66 that one of the most shocking  and sad events ever recorded  took place. The Jews had revolted against  emperor Nero who had been persecuting both the Jews and the Christians for refusing to worship him as their Lord and God. As a result of  the second Jewish temple  which was built during the time when the Jews made their return from captivity under the direction of Ezra the priest was completely destroyed. The Roman soldiers over ran the temple and destroyed  it by over turning every stone over- one after another- all in the hopes of finding gold and priceless treasures. The thing that I find most amazing about this event was the fact that Jesus foretold this very event many years before it happened. In Matthew 24 one day while Jesus was walking in the city of Jerusalem his disciples came to him saying ”Master do  you see all of these magnificent buildings?”  Jesus’ disciples were obviously impressed with the temple - and why not ?  I mean, after all this was the main place of worship in Jesus day. It was the place where many Jews would gather to worship and offer sacrifices to God as an act of worship to his name.  It was a place of beauty, strength and inspiration.  It was in effect the meeting place of God.  It represented the end of years in the wilderness and exile.

 Jesus’ response to the disciples is one that still amazes me to this very day. He said to his disciples “do you see all the things? I tell you the truth not one stone will be left upon another they all will be thrown down.”  Unbelievably,  that is exactly what happened in 70 AD. The Romans destroyed the temple and every stone was thrown down. It’s hard to imagine why God would allow his spiritual house of worship to be destroyed. So many times we read in the scriptures of how God’s house or place of worship was destroyed because of a war, a revolt or because of Israel disobedience to God.  However I believe that after many years of study I believe I understand the message that God was trying to send to the nation of Israel and to us today as well. God destroyed a tabernacle and two temples of worship to give his people a message, and the message was this.  The place of God’s worship is not as important as the heart of the worshipers there.  What really matters to God is not that we just simply worship him with our mouths but that we worship him with our hearts.  This point seems so simple, but grasping it and living it out is so difficult.

As I was thinking about this and how God’s earthly spiritual house of worship was destroyed, I suddenly realized how grateful I was that God is still building another house of worship and sacrifice, and it’s a house that is being built today. It’s not a house of earthly stones -it is a house made out of living stones – people like you and me!!  It’s the Church.  It is a spiritual house made up of believers and followers of Christ Jesus. This is a house where God’s people will offer him the true worship and spiritual sacrifices that God so richly deserves and desires. A house where Christ followers will offer God the true worship that he wants. Worshiper who will worship God the father in both spirit and in truth. It is a  house where those who trust in the Lord Jesus will never be put to shame. It is a  spiritual house that will be made up of those who were once far away from God because of there sin but who were brought near to God because of the blood of Jesus Christ. The people who make up this house will declare the praise of him who called them out of darkness and into his marvelous light for all eternity.

 Unlike the temples that were destroyed this one will never be destroyed. It will last forever because Jesus Christ is it cornerstone. I don’t know about you but I am glad to be part of this house – I realized I am one of the  living stones. And I can’t wait for the day that I get to meet all the believers who make up this spiritual house. I know I’m part of that house and I hope you are to.

A Challenged form the Challenged Champion.

This week take some time thanking God that you have been made a part of his spiritual house because of the blood of Jesus Christ. Thanks God for the assurance and the promise that you will never be destroyed but that you will last forever.