Reflection: God over Creation

Imagine that first Temple: the cosmic canopy of cloud and stars furnished with gushing fountains, epic mountains, sensuous beauty and abundant life.* So very good. 

God with his people but behind the cloud.  

They were Tabernacle/Temples too, flung with curtains and cherubim, flame and fragrance; furnished with every precious earthly element, and so full of glory.**  

Then comes God incarnate.  

This is Temple! God-with-us but camouflaged in Adam/ adamah/ earth. Apart from the mountaintop epiphany (Shhh, don’t tell!), he looks just like…well, he looks like us. Sure, he glimmers with grace and truth. He’s powerful in word and deed. But as for the full essence-of-Temple, that is sequestered until the time is right—the time to reveal the full glory of God-with-us. For the people Jesus is addressing that’s an epiphany just around the corner: 

“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” 

 …he was speaking about the temple of his body.*** 

Each place where God mediates with his beloved creation is ransacked in hatred and in the name of fame. And the world hated Temple-Jesus too (without a cause).  

On the other side of Jesus’ predicted destruction and resurrection are we:  his people, indwelled by his Spirit. That’s radically Temple too. 

The Helper, the Spirit of truth, says Jesus, [is] given by my Father to be with you forever… and the world will hate you too.*** 

Prayer:

Stand in front of a mirror and pray:  

This body is your temple, Holy Spirit.

At what great cost to you it was bought, Father God and Son of God.

So, help me to glorify you in and through this body-temple today.***

May join your intimate dance, Father, Son and Spirit.

May I flourish in beauty, goodness, glory, fruitfulness and praise.

 Notes:

*Isaiah 40:21-22, Psalm 104:2, Proverbs 8:27-29 

**Exodus 40:34; 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 

***John 2:19,21; John 14:16-17; John 15:19; 1 Corinthians 6:19