I love neuroscience. The brain literally controls or affects everything we do. So it makes sense to take care of it.

I have also been aware of some phrases we use in chruch that I beleive are not correct. I was in Hong Kong recently and heard a pastor there say “Welcome to the House of God” as if that is where God lived. It struck a chord in me! To be clear, the Old Testament does have that phrase and it relates to the Temple of God…but not in the New Testament. The New Testament does have that phrase as well, but it is always referring to the Old Testament concept of the Temple. What the New Testament actually TEACHES us is different – because Jesus died and rose again, and now the Spirit of God is available personally to all who ask.

I Corinthians tells us that WE as individuals are now temples of the Holy Spirit. Hence, we – as individuals – are the place where God lives! God does not dwell in mere buildings!

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 – Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
• 1 Corinthians 6:19 – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own…
• 2 Corinthians 6:16 – What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
• Ephesians 2:21 – Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

That being said, I was reading this blog post today about “5 types of self-love” from the Amen Clinics and it hit me squarely: The Old Testament made it very clear that when they built the Temple of God, it was to be strong, beautiful and valuable!

If WE TODAY are God’s Temple, then we are to develop ourselves well in order to be strong, beautiful and valuable! I am not saying this to justify buying a whole new wardrobe, or that we should or should not wear makeup, or justify joining a gym, or anything else like that. Let me share a few observations and applications for us today, in my opinion:

1. The Temple was large – it had a big footprint! Hence, I believe we are to be a significant presence! This does not mean to be overweight, because that is not healthy, and the Temple was strong! But it does mean that our lives are not meant to be insignificant. Each of us has a purpose – nobody is here by accident. I could speak for hours on just this topic alone. Hebrews 10:39 tells us that we are not of those who “shrink back!” Step up, live the life God intended you to live, and do so boldly! Not arrogantly, don’t run the volume up to “10”, but put it in loud form, and balance it well!
2. The Temple wasn’t just “thrown together”…there was a plan, and that plan came from God as recorded in the Bible. God also has a plan for your life and mine. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us this. There are many other scriptures that say the same thing.
3. It took many people to build the Temple! Did you know that according to scripture, it took 70,000 laborers, 80,000 stonecutters, and 3,300 foremen who supervised the work? In the same way, your life is not in a vaccuum…your life is to be lived in a community of believers. If you are antisocial, you may need to work on that some! Introvert or extrovert…let God form you how He wants. He will use people to help mold you! Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” That includes women! Yes hurt may happen! Life guarantees hurt! But healing also happens as well as development, joy, love and companionship!
4. The Temple was made from the best of materials! Strong Cedar wood from Lebanon, valuable gold, strong bronze, high quality stone, and strong Cypress wood. These materials did not just “appear”…much of them had to be quarried, mined, etc. The aspects of your life that will fulfill your purpose will need to be developed. God tells us He gives us gifts and talents, but those need to be practiced and honed. I have an affinity for music. That is from God, but I was not born with an ability to play an instrument. When I was young, God moved my mother to put me into guitar lessons. She did not realize this was from God, she just did it! At first I fought this plan! Playing guitar took work! Practice! After the initial difficulty had passed, I began to grow in talent and ability. I tell students today that if cell phones had existed back then, it wouod have robbed me of any free time and I would not be a musician or guitar player today! After my mother won all of the arguments about my playing and practicing, pretty soon I asked my music teacher Mr. Miller if I could perform a guitar and vocal solo in my 3rd grade choir show. He actually said “yes!” I performed “Leaving on a Jet Plane” at Parkview Elementary School in the Burnsville School district in Minnesota. I’ll never forget I received a standing ovation. Then it was 4th grade, 5th grade, then I would do talent shows, help out at church…pretty soon I was called upon for more significant roles like worship pastor, starting a band, mentoring student worship leaders and emerging worship bands.
5. The Temple took time to build! Be patient! But also be persistent and intentional in building your life! Philippians 1:6 rtells us “Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
6. The Temple was always the subject of attacks. All of us also face an ememy. John 10:10 tells us his strategy is to “Kill, corrupt and destroy” us. Those are the words of Jesus. I could also speak for hours on the battles we will face, but each message woud end how each battle will end – in victory. Some things learn about are spiritual warafare, the armor of God, and picking the right people to influence you in your life!
7. In the OLD TESTAMENT, the Temple was in fact where God lived! Today, WE are God’s Temple, and WE are where God lives IF we invite Him in! In the Old Testament, God didn’t just move into the Temple automatically, Solomon had to dedicate the Temple to God. After that, we see the Temple being filled with God’s Shikinah Glory. In the same way, as we dedicate ourselves to God and ask Him to come in to take residency, He will in fact come in and bring life! Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock!” He will not force His way. He will gently knock. If you listen closely, you will sense the knocking! In fact in Jeremiah 31:3, it says that God has loved us with an evelasting love, and that He has drawn us wich cords of lovingkindness. This is another area I could speak on for hours! If we look back on our lives, we will see how God has drawn us with His goodness and love.

I was not born into a well educated home. My parents were both smart, but not highly educated in the school sense. In 4th grade, my school had a science fair. I wanted to do something, but didn’t know what. I had been interested in how cool the different panets were, so that is what I did…a scale model drawing of the solar system. Little did I know that my idea would take up over 20 poster boards being stapled together end to end in order to get Pluto onto the drawing! I used colors and put my measurements on it so they coud check my scale drawing. I remember putting it up that day after school and having to re-staple parts of it that came undone. I remember leaving thinking, “This is stupid!” When I arrived the next morning I was surprised to see the blue ribbon on my display! Even among the 5th graders! That was a pivotal event. My interest and investment in science was nailed tight right there! Over 50 years later my undergrad degree is in chemistry, with minors in physics, biology and math! I have been a certified math and science teacher foro decades. Two areas that are in high demand no matter where I go! Do you see the goodness of God in His design for my life?

I have developed this idea of finding out why people are here and what their purpose for life is. If we work together, we can find some fairly strong clues as to why you are here! No one is ever “fully arrived”…I am now 63, and I know God wants me to pastor a church full time when I retire from education – whenever that will be! In the meantime, I will strive to have a positive spiritual influence wherever I am! If you want to know more, reach out!