The Church is God’s Sacred Space (Daily Refresh, 4-11-26)

Back when the Old Testament stories were still being lived out, God designated sacred spaces for His people to meet with Him.

First, God planted a garden in Eden—a beautiful space in paradise for His prized creations. Next, the tabernacle was a portable space in the wilderness for the Israelites who’d been rescued from Egyptian slavery. Then, the temple was a permanent space in Jerusalem for the people of Israel.

In all instances, these were specially chosen places of worship, as well as tangible signs of God’s presence. 

The Creator of everything that exists can’t be confined to a garden, a tent, or a building, but it was in those sacred spaces where heaven and earth could overlap.

Fun fact: Garden imagery is all over the decorative details of both the tabernacle and the temple: palm trees and pomegranates, water lilies and almond blossoms, lions and oxen, vibrant colors and precious metals. Such designs are meant to point back to the beginning—before things went wrong.

Because a holy God loves sinful people, we have a separation problem. That’s why priests were appointed as representatives—mediators for things like worship, sacrifices, and atonement. And though it worked for a while, it was only a temporary solution.

But when Jesus showed up, He not only fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and temple purposes, but He also bridged the gap. No longer was there a need for a temple made of wood or stone, but of flesh and blood. No longer was there a need for endless sacrifices, because Jesus, the ultimate High Priest, had provided the ultimate sacrifice—Himself. Finally, God’s Spirit could now dwell with and inside of His people, the new and improved “temple.”

That’s why Paul asked the Corinthians:
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We serve a God who meets people where they are: in the garden, in the wilderness, in the temple, in themselves. 

So if you’re a follower of Christ, remember: You are the place where His Spirit now dwells. You are the vessel in which He lives and moves and works and empowers. You are the place where heaven has crashed into earth.

My Thoughts

God meets me right here, wherever I am. If I am in my den doing a devotional, God is right there. If I am in the car headed to yet another medical appointment or test, God is with me. If I am enjoying fun times coloring eggs with grandchildren, God is with me. Jesus said that He would never leave nor forsake us. The fact that the Holy Spirit dwells in me gives life and meaning to this verse. I have been reading the Old Testament a lot in my devotionals and just read the part in which Solomon dedicated the temple in Jerusalem and God’s presence came among the people there. This devotional says that the temple was meant to be permanent. But we know history and know that it was destroyed, just as Jesus predicted that it would be. But we are God’s permanent temple here on earth, His dwelling place. I am in awe and wonder that the God of the entire Universe chooses to make me a dwelling place for His Spirit. He is as close as my next breath and right there for each pain I feel and each tear that falls. I want to be worthy of His presence, but I am not without the saving blood and grace of Jesus. His sacrifice made me worthy to be a temple of the Lord. That, my friends, is worth pondering and being thankful for…until we meet God in person, He meets us daily right where we are. Hallelujah!