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In the book of Exodus we learn that God gave Moses detailed instructions to build a portable Tabernacle which would become a place for God to live with his people as they traveled. Moses was instructed to use the very best of materials.
In the book of 1 Kings we learn that God gave Solomon detailed instructions to build a Temple which would become a place for God to live among his people. Solomon was instructed to use the very best materials.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus prophecies to the Apostle Peter that he would “build his church…”
Ephesians 2:20-22 describes the building of the church. Each Christian is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11) then each building is assembled with each other and builds a structure (the church) which is described as a “holy temple in the Lord” built for a dwelling place for God.
John 4 contains a discussion between the Samaritan woman and Jesus Christ. Jesus tells her that her people worshipped (incorrectly) on a mountain and the Jews (correctly) worshipped in the Temple in Jerusalem. He foretells that the time would come when the worship of God would be in neither place nor would worship be in a man-made structure but true worship would be in “spirit and in truth”.
Formerly God lived among his people (Israel) in a particular land and in a particular place. Today God lives among and within his people wherever they are and wherever they assemble. He still requires the very best of materials… people who have disciplined themselves to eliminate sin from their lives and replace it with sacrificial works for the benefit of others.
I wish I could go back in time and view the Tabernacle and the Temple… they must have been incredible structures. However, there is nothing more beautiful than God’s people (the church) working and assembling together in love and peace and harmony and Moses and Solomon longed to see that day.
1 Corinthians 3 contains a segment where Paul uses the figure of building a house to describe how Christians are built. He describes himself as a “wise master builder”. In other words… it’s not the first house he has ever built. He lays the perfect foundation… Jesus Christ and then builds the rest of the house out of the best and most durable materials… gold, silver and stone.
He implies that other builders (teachers) may build on the same foundation (Jesus Christ) and use inferior materials… combustible materials… wood, hay and stubble.
He warns that one day a fire is going to test these buildings (Christians) and the buildings (Christians) that are lost will also have other consequences… their builders (teachers) will also suffer.
Contextually these foolish amateur builders have to be teachers who were sometimes called Judaizing teachers. They were teaching new Greek converts that they also had to obey elements of the Law of Moses… be circumcised, obey food laws and feast days etc. making them a sort of hybrid Jew.
Because Paul taught otherwise these teachers questioned his Apostleship and even taught that if you were baptized by Paul you were baptized with an inferior baptism… making you inferior.
Of course you have the same types of teachers teaching today. They teach doctrines of men and not of God. They are soft on their teachings and are just trying to make their listeners feel good. They de-emphasize the Bible by hardly ever referencing it… etc. etc. etc.
Look for a wise master builder to help you build your spiritual house so that when the day of fire comes you are… spiritually incombustible, while the other houses around you are sadly… burning to the ground.
There’s a common motif that is repeated throughout the Bible… a person of faith (man or woman) with humble beginnings rises to great heights being blessed by God and those blessings extend to the people around that person.
Let’s look at three examples… Joseph, Daniel and Esther/Mordecai.
Joseph of course was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery. He excelled as a slave and ascended to second in command of the nation of Egypt (behind only Pharaoh). Joseph was a Jew and the Egyptians despised Jews and would not even eat with them. God blessed Joseph and as a result Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt was also blessed.
Daniel as a young Jew of noble birth was taken into the Babylonian captivity and made to serve in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar. After many challenges (that Daniel overcomes with his faith) he is made…
“Ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed in charge of all its wise men.”
God blessed Daniel and the nation of Babylon was also blessed.
Esther and her father-figure Mordecai are Jews in the Medo-Persian Empire. The queen of the empire has been demoted and a new queen is being sought. Esther is one of 127 beautiful women competing for that honor and the young Jewish maiden is selected. She is wife and queen to the most powerful King of the world. Mordecai is also elevated to the number two political position of the empire. Esther and Mordecai overcame trials of racism and threats of death to reach their positions. God’s blessings extended to the Medo-Persian Empire because of Esther and Mordecai.
Let’s re-examine the motif… humble beginnings, faith, God blesses the faithful and the nations they are associated with. Note that in these three examples non-Jewish nations are blessed.
Nothing recorded in the Bible is accidental or just serves for entertainment value.
Consider Jesus Christ… humble beginnings, no formal education, he is persecuted for his faith and teachings… even to death, but arises to sit at the right hand side of Jehovah God and all nations are blessed… Jew and Gentile… past, present and future.
All these stories in the Bible lead us to Jesus Christ and give us great confidence that no matter what our position in life is, no matter how we are mistreated no matter… anything. Maintain and cultivate your faith and God will bless you too and… maybe, just maybe bless your family, your city, your state and your nation.
