Rebuilding The Temple

I've been reading through to Old Testament book of 1 Kings and how King Solomon built the first temple. Have you ever read it? Wow. JUST a little gold in that place!

He used the very best materials, the absolute best craftsmen . . . Solomon used the best of everything to build a place for God to dwell. He was super wise and had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Solomon had everything. But then something happened. He turned away from the Lord and God raised up an enemy for Solomon and eventually Solomon died. His entire family line died out, except the one that led to Jesus. He was doing good initially, then he turned his back on God and then Solomon died. Interesting pattern.

Let's go back in time to Adam. He and Eve had it pretty good. Walking with God everyday in the garden - their "temple." It was nice. They have everything they needed. But then they turned away from God, ate the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, and death came into the world. Hmm. Basically the same pattern.

Now let's look at us sinful humans for a moment. Many of us never have it good at all, much less have everything we need. Some of us do. Regardless of the amount of material possessions we have, we all have turned our backs on God. It's called sin. And guess what . . . we all will die. Same pattern, over and over again. Blah, blah, blah.

But there is something we have that Solomon and Adam didn't. We have Jesus. Listen to this Old Testament verse, prophesying about the coming Christ and His Holy Spirit . . .

"27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." - Ezekiel 37:27

And now this verse . . .

"19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Hmm. When we allow Jesus to rule over our lives, God's Holy Spirit comes into us and, according to the what we just read, WE become God's temple. That brings me to my question of the day.

If our lives and what what we are doing with them are furnishings for God's temple, our bodies, how ornate are the furnishings WE have made? Are our deeds made of the finest gold? Or are they dirty and dusty, unworthy for our God to dwell in? Have we turned our backs on God? The Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). And is that is the case we will die one day. The death rate for humans is 100%. So, what is the point of living then if we all are just going to die?

This life we are living is an opportunity. God has given us an opportunity to live with Him in His temple, in heaven. He has sent an invitation to the world! It is through our faith in His Son that we have this chance. God paid the price for that "ticket" through sacrificing His one and only Son. To us the ticket is free. So . . . what are we waiting for?

Read this very slowly and soak in each word . . . The words of Jesus.

"16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” - John 3:16-21

If you haven't committed your life to Jesus today, what are you waiting for? We are living in prophetic times. That means time is running short. Please, make a commitment to Christ today. Clean up your temple and fill it with the finest furnishings available - God's Holy Spirit. Placing your faith and trust in Jesus will make YOUR temple spotless to God. Let Jesus do the cleaning. And then you will dwell with God, and He with you . . . forever.  :)

Trust In Jesus - Third Day

Time Warp

I just watched the new Star Wars VII movie trailer. Cool. Harrison Ford was in it. Boy, has he changed over the years! Grey hair and wrinkles can never hide that cocky grin. Chewy looked good. Not a touch of grey! Can't tell about the wrinkles.

When I look in the mirror these days I too can see more wrinkles and grey hair than I used to. I still feel young inside but I will admit it takes a little more time to get from Point A to Point B. Why is that? Could it be that I am getting older? Nah.

I have some young friends who like to tease me about my age. They call me a dinosaur. They ask me what it was like to walk the earth when Jesus did. Funny. I don't really mind because I am indeed young at heart.

There are two things about getting old that I find incredibly useful, especially later in life - experience and wisdom. Experience comes naturally. As we get older we just naturally go through more "stuff." Simply by being "old" I know more stuff through my experiences. My 62 years of experience on this earth trumps the experience of most 19-20 year olds for example. It makes sense. Wisdom, on the other hand, is harder to come by.

I heard someone once say that "intelligence is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one on a cake." That's true. Wisdom can be very beneficial, especial when baking cakes! Correct, timely application of knowledge. Now THAT is wisdom.

Wisdom is usually something that comes slowly with age but it is possible to obtain wisdom without spending years and years to obtain it. Kind of a time warp for the wise. Pray for it.

"5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” - 1 Kings 3:5-14

Solomon asked and received. Have you asked God to give you wisdom? I'm not saying that you will be made wise like Solomon was but seek God in ALL things. If you do this, you can't help but become wise.

Star Wars - The Force Awakens (Trailer #2)

The Wisdom of Solomon - Moody Bible Story

Plant

Snow has finally left our part of the country. Things are beginning to get a little more green. There are more and more signs of life with every passing day. Most of the birds are back - the Red-Winged Blackbirds, the Sandhill Cranes, The male goldfinches are changing color from their blah winter color to that bright yellow and black color they are known for.

The streams are still swollen with the run-off the the winter's melting snow. And over at Turner's farm Market they are beginning to plant their crops. Tis the season for planting.

Sunday morning at church our pastor was preaching about the end times, the end of the world. He specifically used the text from Matthew 24. As he read the text to us we were reminded of signs to watch out for, the signs that will tell us Jesus is about to return. Jesus compared these signs to a fig tree and how we are able to tell what season it is, simply by looking to the signs it gives.

"32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near." - Matthew 24:32

As I left the church there was a large cardboard box by the front doors. It was something for us to take home with us. Guess what was sin it? It was seeds! Seeds to plant in our gardens. Carrots, radishes, lettuce, squash. Many different seeds to plant and ultimately food to eat.

"6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building." - 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Take a look at the picture at the top of this page. You and I are the seed planters. We're the little things that are sticking onto the ground. God in the tractor. Without Him we can do nothing. He gives us the power through His Holy Spirit. Our job is simply to plant seeds in the hearts and minds of those we meet as we walk through this world.

Who in your life needs to have some new life? Is there anyone you know that could use the saving grace of God, our Father? Plant some seeds in their lives today. And then pray for rain! :)

Did you know that King Solomon wrote the lyrics to a 60's rock song? He did. His words were put to music by a band named the Byrds. With the exception of a few minor words changes the words are taken straight from the Book of Ecclesiastes, the third chapter. King Solomon also recognized a time to plant. That time is now!

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

We have been placed on this earth for a reason. We have been called by God to "spread the Gospel to all nations." We have been called to plant seeds.plant sees. May the seeds we plant today fall on fertile soil and produce a bountiful crop at harvest time.

Turn, Turn, Turn - The Byrds