July 21 God’s View

Luke 21:5-6 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
 
WHAT good is a good building? A good home protects a family. Products are produced in a sturdy factory. People learn in various classrooms. We build worship centers designed for God’s people to be unified in their approach to God. Good buildings can be places where people unite in a common cause. God is a builder. He had an ark, an altar, a tabernacle and then a temple built as places for his people to be safe and to worship him. He built a nation to gather his people together. He formed a cross to draw all men to his eternal goodness.
    Such was the spiritual power of the temple in Jesus’ Jerusalem. Despite their differences, the Jews had the temple in common. Poor and rich, learned and unschooled Jews could gather in that one supreme worship center.
    In response to perhaps seeing the temple for the first time, the disciples exclaimed their wonder, remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. Then Jesus moves their minds from the present into God’s future. He reminds them God has an eternal building plan as Jesus plainly prophesied the temple’s destruction. As we have written before, in 70 AD Rome burned and brought down all of Jerusalem. Even the giant stones of the temple mount became mere rocks. What can we say? Should we marvel at the good buildings that make our lives safe and strong? Or should we minimize such accomplishments? 
    We can answer this with the good Teacher’s gospel lessons. Jesus says all our learning and perspective on life begins when we “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) As we regard all things in our lives that are good, including good, useful and beautiful buildings, we are to see them with an eye on God’s future building plan for our lives. When, for example, we look at our home, we should be mindful of the eternal home God has prepared for us. When we see his church, keep an eye on God’s future where all the church will worship him in the eternal New Heaven and earth.
    As we’ll see in the next lessons, Jesus prophesied destruction to his disciples to warn them, prepare them and spur them to their good work. Their mission was to get the world’s eyes of the world and focus on God’s future for our lives.
    Yes, we can and should enjoy life’s good things. Yet, Jesus’ disciples – that’s all who call Jesus, “Lord.” – are to have an eternal view. We must know our indestructible beauty is in God’s kingdom to come.
   
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the many physical blessings you place into my hands. I pray I see them as a glimpse of your eternal provision for my life. In Jesus’ name I rejoice in your wonder. Amen.