September 16, 2020: SOAP #3940:  Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

Scripture:  Revelation (NIV) 21:9 One of the seven angels … said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal….
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.

Observation:   The city of Jerusalem in Israel is a city that was built around the temple. Everything is in relationship to the temple.  All activity related to the temple.  The people lived and set their schedules around the temple. 

In contrast, the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, is a city WITHOUT A TEMPLE!   All activity is centered around the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.  The presence of God makes the whole city the temple.  The people do not visit the temple/church building weekly or on holy days, they live in the temple and in relationship with God, they ARE the temple!    

Application:   It is easy for believers today to become building centered.   We think of the church as a building, yet we all are looking forward to going to a city that has no temple building!  Buildings can be gathering places, teaching places, fellowship places, but the church is the people of God.   

The heavenly fellowship that God desires is that He lives in me every day, all day.  He walks in me and talks with me.  He has made me His dwelling place.  He is not just an honored visitor on Sunday, He is a permanent part.     

Prayer:  God, you are a permanent part of my life.  You are THE important part of my life.  Every moment of every day revolves around you.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!