The Standard for Life - Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke
Time for Judgment
"Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel." "The time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God" Lev.27:25 (1 Pet. 4:17,18)
"The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord." The Lord, His name, and His law, are the foundation of life, the basis of the world, and the core of all human affairs. The judgments of the house of the Lord are our true wisdom. Our Gospel message means that for this present age, "The time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God."
The Temple was the Key
One special feature in Scripture is its 676 references to the Temple, the Sanctuary, or Tabernacle. The Temple was the key; the centre and heart of Israel. Only priests actually were allowed to enter – it was not a chapel of worship. It was like no other building on earth. At its secret heart were two tables of the Law of God. An edifice itself existed for the Name of the Lord. This wonderful place, a permanent structure in Jerusalem, shone light in every direction. It took the place of a tent, the Tabernacle; belonging to Israel’s nomadic, 40 years after leaving Egypt. However, this ‘Tent ‘ was still the pivot of the nation and the tribes encamped about it in set order.
The Greatest Building on Earth
When they finally entered Canaan, they were scattered thinly over the land, and were led by the ‘Judges.’ The Tabernacle was at Shiloh and not central, so then "everyone did as he saw fit," liberty became license, and disorder reigned. Jdg 21:25. The prophet Samuel, a truly great man, began to pull the tribes together. King David followed by welding them into nationhood. David knew the Temple was a priority to unite the nation. He planned to build it and earned God’s reward that He would build David a house. The Temple had to be where it could not be ignored, as the most impressive place in the land. At that time, a thousand years before Christ, Solomon completed the work and made it the greatest building on earth.
Not Just Religion
The Temple purpose was not just religion. It represented the destiny of Israel, its values, principles, morals, and why Israel even existed. It was the great regulator. A common expression in the Old Testament was "according to the shekel of the sanctuary." Everything had to be according to the sanctuary. That Temple summed up the standard for mankind. The Standard English yard is set in stone in London, and in the Temple was set the standard for life.
Tragic Tale of Israel
The tale of Israel is tragic because of its attitude towards the Temple. They first regarded it with superstition, as a charm to protect the nation. Jeremiah said, "Do not trust in these deceptive words. This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord. Amend your ways and your doings." Jer.7:4. The Temple had no magic that would save them. Then under idolatrous kings, the Temple was defiled and filled with debris. 2 Chron. 29:16. Though it was the true reference point for their lives, it was neglected for years. The nation lost its orientation and direction. Israel almost ceased to exist.
Acts 21:30 Reveals Shut Doors
Babylon captured and carried off its leading populace, and then after 70 years, a Jewish remnant returned. The Bible books, Nehemiah, Ezra, Haggai and Zephaniah, show the restoration of the Temple to be vital. Ezra 5:1. Haggai the prophet challenged them; "It is time for you to dwell in your ceiled houses and this house lies waste? Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew and the earth is stayed from her fruit." The Biblical emphasis is tremendous. When Paul was arrested in a riot, the doors of the temple were shut. Acts 21:30. This is the last Temple reference in Scripture and 20 years afterwards, this glorious edifice was razed to the ground.
Something Greater Than the Temple
As great as the Temple was, God had something greater; the living Church of Christ, here as the Temple. 1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 6.16. "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" The Temple of Jerusalem was not just about religion, and neither is the Church. It is the template of the Divine order for the world. That is why Jesus taught us to pray; "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." It is not a ‘model’ here of structure, shape or organization, but of life. For the material order, sacred and secular, God has given us level-headedness and wisdom and expects to see human initiative.
Foundations in Christ
The Church is the city of God. Rev. 21.2, 10. Abraham ‘looked for a city which had foundations' and the Church is built on Christ and ‘has foundations.’ 1 Cor. 311. Building on Christ gives the church its eternal value. The world builds only on itself and has no permanence. Jesus said that any foundation, but the rock of His words is sinking sand. We can see for ourselves that great thinkers and philosophers have left us only a morass of shifting opinions.
A City Set on a Hill
"The church of the living God (is) the pillar and ground of the truth." Like the Temple stood for the Name of the Lord enshrining His law, so does the Church. The church is built of living stones; those who daily say ‘yes’ to Jesus and confess Him as Lord and Savior. Then Jesus said; the church is like a city set on a hill for all to see and is "The light of the world." We read that, "The nations walk in the light of it." 1 Tim 3:15. Matt. 5:14. Rev. 21.4. Unless the world accepts the witness of the Church, the Gospel, and walks in that light, it stumbles in darkness. The world lurches from crisis to crisis and from catastrophe to catastrophe. Why? Because with all its knowledge it has no foundation. What is not based on the truth cannot stand. Christ weeps over the godless order as He wept over Jerusalem. Jesus said; "You are the salt of the earth! We were not a cult operating behind walls. Our place is in the market place proclaiming the truth and the true life-style. God’s interest is not just religion. "The earth is the Lord’s and they that dwell in it."
to be continued...
