In one of the many interactions between Jesus and His audience, which included His disciples, an important teaching is conveyed that mankind needs to learn and live by... Luke 21, 5 - 6. Of course, they missed it and went on to quiz the Master on things to come and what signs should they look for. But what brought on this discourse was their admiration and pride in the temple which they saw as setting them apart from all other nations. This magnificent structure, erected since Solomon's time, was viewed by most Jews as the pinnacle of their greatness as a nation, especially since Almighty God came down and endorsed its construction... 2 Chronicles 7, 1-2. But as Jesus alluded, this was not "The House" that Almighty God chose to bless His people. The wood and stone structure was only used as a prelude to what God had intended, all along. The Temple which God would "come" down and bless is the heart and mind (soul) of mankind.... 2 Corinthians, 6;16. For Almighty God knows it is our humanity that needs healing because this is the very thing that keeps us away from God. This is the very thing that makes us recognize who we are as a distinct creature and creates pride in the resultant self-awareness. This is the very thing that creates our need for self-preservation and in the words of psychologists, it is what makes us operate at our highest level and generates our humane qualities. But it is the very thing that poisons our existence and makes us materialistic and proud, as Jesus taught them about motive and attitude in our actions... Luke 21, 1-4. For this very reason most people feel that the "blessings" from God are money, cars, houses, high-paying jobs, airplanes and every materialist and earthly way they can conjure up in their carnal minds. But would God "bless' us in ways that would develop pride in our selves ? NO. What God wants is for us to know that HE is the only true blessing. His presence, living and guiding our beings. You can live in your house but of what use is that when wood, stone and metal become idols to you. Recognize that it is our damaged souls that need saving and allow our BLESSING to come into our hearts and minds and fix us. Recognize the very thing that keeps us separated from our BLESSING is our humanity. What God wants is for us to know that our blessings lie in relating to HIM as Father where our insides are transformed. Then we are truly blessed as sons of God, with the only expectation being the indwelling Spirit of God as our only motivator and director. Not as in religion, where God is "served" only with the expectations of material acquisitions.
'AND I HEARD A GREAT VOICE OUT OF HEAVEN SAYING, BEHOLD THE TABERNACLE OF GOD IS WITH MEN, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM, AND THEY SHALL BE HIS PEOPLE, AND GOD HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM, AND BE THEIR GOD. AND GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN, FOR TH E FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.
Revelation 21, 3-4
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