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Being a pillar in God’s temple

“The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from My God out of heaven, and my own new name.” (Revelation 3:12)

In Old Testament times, the temple in Jerusalem was a central place of worship. Psalm 84 phrases people’s longing to go there: “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord […] Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!” Jesus connects to this longing. He promises that His followers who endure to the end, will always be in His temple, in His presence. They will never leave again. They will even be an essential part of this temple — not an earthly building, but God’s heavenly dwelling place. This makes me think of another metaphor in 1 Peter 2:5, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house.” God will dwell among and with His children forever.

Ancient temples often had inscriptions. Jesus says that His own name, the name of God the Father, and the name of the new heavenly city of Jerusalem will be written on the pillars in His temple. They are like pieces of art that the Artist will sign with His own signature.

Can you imagine being in God’s presence forever, being fully devoted to His glory? Does your present life have any similarity to this?