Exodus 23:14-25:40; Psalm 30; Matthew 24:29-51

“You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.” -Psalm 30:11-12

God’s redemption makes the impossible possible. We can have a peace-filled fellowship, a love relationship, with the King of the Universe. How amazing is that?! In the Exodus reading portion we read of the types of Christ under the law. The institution of a priesthood, sacrifices, and tabernacle foreshadow Jesus fulfilling these roles once and for all as our Great High Priest and Perfect Sacrifice, the Lamb of God. Through Him we are cleansed, forgiven, and restored as God’s own sons and daughters. It is because of Jesus that we are free to worship anywhere. His Presence is no longer confined to a portable tabernacle or man-made temple. Jesus is the Temple (John 2:18-22).

The Holy Spirit dwells in each believer thus making up Jesus’ Church from a patchwork of languages, nations, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Rich and poor, Jew and Gentile all have Christ in common. We, His Bride, become where Jesus’ temple resides (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This truth has enormous impact, ministering to us as we realize God has not left us alone. He has given Himself to be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Even when the curtain of human history comes to a close, if we are still here, we can have courage as our faith assures us of the outcome. Our Father literally wrote out the ending for us (Isaiah 35: Revelation 21-22). The time of judgment will be cut short for the sake of His people (Matthew 24:21-22). God will shake the Earth of wickedness then redeem it, creating a New Earth where Heaven and Earth meet. For now the wheat and tares live together but one day God will separate them. It is His grace and long-suffering mercy which causes God to be slow to anger, abounding in love, not wishing any should perish to eternal Hell.

Christian, you can rest secure in Christ because Jesus lives, and He lives in you, His living temple. God destroyed the Temple in Jesus on the cross so that you and I will never be destroyed. We carry His sacred temple within us. Just as Christ was resurrected we too are not overcome by death, but will taste resurrection for ourselves. When we pass from this Earth to our eternal Home we will see Jesus our Lord, the Living Temple, face to face. This is our heritage, this is our glory.

Grace upon grace,

April