Our Hearts Burn Within Us预览

Unshakable

Herod’s temple in Jerusalem was one of the wonders of the ancient world. In Jesus’ day, it was the center of Jewish life, was twice the size of Solomon’s temple, and its very foundations were made of unbelievably large stones. It was decorated with gold and had gates as tall as twenty feet high, some made of bronze. On temple grounds, daily sacrifices were conducted by the priests and the Sanhedrin. Towards its center was the holy place with its golden altar of incense, the golden table of showbread, and the golden lampstands, all set up to resemble the tabernacle of Moses in ancient times. Then there was the Holy of Holies—it's walls covered with gold beyond a veil and meant to be a place where the very presence of God could dwell. The sights and sounds at the temple were bigger than life. People saved for years to make the trip of a lifetime to see and experience the temple in Jerusalem.

Despite all its splendor, grandeur, and prominence in daily Jewish life, Jesus shocked those in the temple that day with these words:

And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned by beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, “As for these things you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.” (Luke 21:5-6)

Jesus’ prophetic words were fulfilled with the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. All of the beauty surrounding temple was turned into a national Jewish nightmare as the temple was destroyed. Even something as vast and beautiful as the temple—the very center of Jewish life at that time—was temporary. If the temple can be destroyed, where can I turn and in what can I trust? If the temple’s foundations are vulnerable, what about the foundations of my life?

Have you ever had those same questions about your own life and the people and things you treasure? Has a wonderful person, close friendship, treasured job, beautiful marriage, trusted minister or church you depended on crumbled at its very foundations like you thought it never could?

There is a Lenten lesson here. ALL things, large or small, ordinary or spectacular, are temporary and subject to change. The Book of Hebrews reminds us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken, and that includes both the heavens and the earth (12:26, 27). Jesus said that there would be wars where nation rises against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and that even the earth itself would quake (Luke 21:9-11). This is so we can receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). Jesus is the only one that “…is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Prayer

Lord, today I take account of the things that sparkle, shine, and glitter all around me—the things both great and small. Holy Spirit, help me to sift through the things that surround me to determine what I base my life upon. Open my eyes to see the temporary things so I can hold onto them lightly and so make room for eternal things that last and endure. I release all that is temporary to you and embrace Kingdom things that are eternal and unshakable by faith, in Jesus’ name. Amen