101. Temple of God
1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are….Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
The promise that our bodies are temples of God, the Holy Spirit is really quite remarkable. A Temple is defined as the residence or presence of God on the earth. God is in heaven in the invisible realm; of that truth the Bible leaves no doubt. But God has chosen to dwell with men on the physical earth, A Temple is a place where God dwells, not in all His resplendent glory but in His Presence. We may go to find God where He tells us to go, and there we will find Him. Actually, He finds us and draws us to His Presence with cords of love.
Holy places, shrines and altars have always been recognized by human worshipers as places where one may approach God. Then God directed Moses to build a Tabernacle in which their God, the Lord, would dwell. There one may approach God with prescribed rituals and sacrifices. Everyone knew where God was.
Later, God directed Solomon to build the Temple at a designated place. The Presence of God moved from the Tabernacle to the Temple. In the center of the Temple was the Holy of Holies room housing the Ark of the Covenant, on which the Lord resided. This was truly a Holy Place.
Then the Temple of God housing the Presence of God moved onto the person of Jesus Christ. He declared His body to be the temple of God’s Presence. That body would be destroyed and then raised up again. After the resurrection He would pour out the Holy Spirit and He would send Him into the bodies of believers in Christ. Now the Presence of God on the earth in and within the Body of Christ and in the individual bodies of every believer in Christ. Now the earthly dwelling place of God is the Church, the body of Christ, made up of believers. So where does one go to connect with the one true God? He goes to a group of Christians, the Church, or at least he may go to one Christian in whom God lives.
This is awesome, and the implications of this promise are powerful. One implication this truth has for us is how we treat our bodies, how we treat fellow Christians, and how we regard the Church, the communion of saints. We also may look to God and find Him “with us” wherever we are or whatever we are doing. Where is God? Right here in my heart within my body. Enter into His presence any time.