“NEW TEMPLE”
Today we conclude our journey through the entire story of the Bible. Along the way, we’ve discovered that God has always wanted to dwell with His people.
Yesterday we discovered that God “tabernacled” with us through His Son, Jesus, who died for our sins so that we could be with God.
Before Jesus died, He made a bold prediction. After His resurrection, He was returning to heaven and leaving His followers here on earth.
God has always wanted to dwell with His people.
The disciples were devastated and confused. They thought Jesus was going to establish His kingdom on earth here and now, and that they would rule along with Him.
But then Jesus said something shocking. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7 ESV)
IT’S BEST FOR ME TO GO
Jesus told His followers that a Helper was coming that would be better than Jesus existing in a body on the earth:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17 ESV)
Before Jesus died, he made a bold prediction.
Jesus promised that the Helper (another name for the Holy Spirit) would dwell with followers of Jesus, and be in followers of Jesus. God has always desired to dwell with His people.
AN UPGRADE IS AVAILABLE
Most of us have a celebrity that we dream of meeting – our favorite athlete, politician, musician, Tik Tok star, or historical figure. “I would love to have dinner with Abraham Lincoln” or “It would be so cool to meet Taylor Swift.”
Now, imagine you could talk with Jesus when He walked on planet earth. Picture having a meal with Him, asking Him questions, and watching Him interact with people.
Most of us have a celebrity that we dream of meeting – our favorite athlete, politician, musician, Tik Tok star, or historical figure.
According to Jesus, you can have something even better. God Himself dwells inside of every follower of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We can walk, talk, and live with God every second of every day.
Pastor Jim Gallagher says that “Jesus believes this relationship with God is even better than the one that Andrew [and the rest of the apostles] had with Jesus when they walked along the Sea of Galilee.” (from the teaching “Cure for a Troubled Heart”)
GOD HAS A NEW ADDRESS
Earlier this week, we learned that in the Old Testament, God’s presence lived in a temple. According to the writers of the New Testament, God still lives in a temple. But this time, it isn’t made with stone and mortar.
Paul writes, Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)
Peter says, And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. (1 Peter 2:5 NLT)
God still lives in a temple. But this time, it isn’t made with stone and mortar.
To recap:
- God dwelled with His people in the garden. They sinned.
- God rescued them and dwelt with them in the tabernacle and the temple. They kept on sinning.
- So God came to earth in the person of Jesus to save humanity from their sin. Immanuel tabernacled with us. Jesus paid for our sins so that we could have full access to the presence of God.
- Finally, God sent the Holy Spirit so that He can live with us continually.
We’ll talk more about the Holy Spirit later in our journey. But before we end our time, we must take one more stop on our “Brief History of With God”.
HEAVEN IS MORE THAN FLOATING HARPS
Right now, God lives in every follower of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. So what happens next? Scripture discloses one more step on our journey with God.
The Bible’s view of heaven makes it sound more like the Garden of Eden than floating around on clouds playing harps, or an eternal church service.
In heaven, there will be eating, celebrations, community, and life-giving work. But God’s presence is what makes it perfect and complete.
But the purpose of the new heavens and new earth is no different than the purpose of life right now. Listen to what John writes in Revelation 21:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 ESV)
This is our great hope. All of history has been marching toward this end. God will make all things new, and He will dwell with His people forever.
The Bible’s view of heaven makes it sound more like the Garden of Eden than floating around on clouds playing harps, or an eternal church service.
In heaven, there will be eating, celebrations, community, and life-giving work. But God’s presence is what makes it perfect and complete.
“God with us” is the theme of the Bible. It’s the point of God’s redemptive story. It’s why He created the world and why Jesus came. It’s the message and mission He gave the church.
DEMO DAY
Today we learned that the Holy Spirit has moved into your body. When God moves in, He wants to redecorate. He has an unlimited budget and an incredible vision for your life.
But it will cost you. You’ll have to say goodbye to some things in your space that you love and hold dear. There will be moments when the renovation is painful. But you’ll be astonished by the transformation. God wants to make you a powerful force for His kingdom. He wants to empower you and use you in ways you could never imagine.
When God moves in, he wants to redecorate.
Jesus never removes for your harm. He always replaces anything He uproots with abundant life.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes, Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV)
Because of the unimaginable gift of God dwelling with His people, we are called to lay down everything that holds us back. In response to His pursuit of us, let’s chase after Him.
NEXT STEPS
1: Read Revelation 21:1-8
2: Spend 10 minutes practicing Solitude, meditating on the passage above. Write down 1 thing that God showed you from this passage. (To learn how to practice Solitude, see Week 1, Day 5 – “Coffee Mugs”)
3: Text one friend one thing that you learned