PART 1--PART 2

What an amazing message yesterday!  The brother who shared began with an illustration of how his son desired, and was then signed up to  play on a hockey team. All fees and equipment were paid and provided for him. All he needed to do now was to show up for each practice, so he could  learn how to skate, and how to play the game with the rest of the team!

This, in a sense, is a picture of our entrance into the Kingdom of our Lord. He invites us to join Him, to receive His free gift of salvation; to be a part of the "household of faith." All we need to be a part of His family is provided for us and we all exult and praise our Lord for such an amazing opportunity!! We are forgiven!! All things become new!!  That could be likened to Part 1.

Now comes the second part.  There is so much to learn--to see--to appropriate.  This will take us the remainder of our lives here.   God, in Exodus 25, gave His servant Moses a pattern for the Tabernacle, the meeting place, He wanted built.  This leader shared the vision with all the of God's people, and then each person was given an opportunity to use their gifts and their energy to build it. BUT-it had to be built EXACTLY and with the precise details that God desired and purposed.  Only when it was finished  and the priests prepared  did  God in Exodus 40  pour out His seal of approval by covering the tabernacle with the cloud of HIS glory-filling it!

Part 2 of our Christian life has been and continues to be under much attack. God's enemy in those days before the tabernacle was built, came up with the idea of having the people make a golden calf to worship, and causing them to lose all self control. Later during the time of the Kings, the Book of the Law was lost for many years--only restored by King Josiah, after many many years of apostasy by God's people.  For willful disobedience God had His people exiled to other countries; the temple Solomon had  built in Jerusalem was destroyed, and the walls of the city were broken down.

In the books of Ezra and Nehemiah we see God's purpose again being recovered as He raised up leaders with His vision to rebuild the walls and the temple. Again this was met with opposition.

Where is God's temple today??  The New Testament clearly says that we, the followers of Christ are His building, His temple!  If this is so, do we see that?? And--then how are we to be building?

Like His people of old, we are now called to give ourselves to be a part of this now invisible, eternal building mentioned in  Ephesians 2, I Corinthians 3, 6, and in Revelations 21 where the final culmination of the New Jerusalem  comes down out of heaven  to a new heaven and new earth.   THIS is our final inheritance as believers!

In our daily lives we are now HIS temple, entrusted with divine gifts and abilities with which to build as we walk in oneness with Him.  This is not a self effort, but a daily co-operation with His working within us. What a privilege! What a calling! And yes, what a battle!  Our old nature opposes this calling and outwardly society, religious and secular  howls against this building work.

There is and always will be a cost to following our Master. HE says we are to "die to our self" in all the little, daily situations--but oh the sweet peace and joy with surrender to His Lordship! What a foretaste of the Bridegroom with the Bride!

"Oh Lord, keep calling us. Keep us sober and focused on YOU!" Only by keeping our equipment properly on, and by persevering to participate with HIS team will we grow up to together be the be the wise virgins...the ones who wisely use the gifts HE has given...BRIDE that HE is waiting for!