One of the pleasures of a trip to Europe is visiting the grand cathedrals that dot the landscape. They are breathtakingly beautiful as they soar toward the heavens. The architecture, art, and symbolism found in these amazing buildings present a spellbinding experience of wonder and magnificence.
As I thought about the fact that these structures were built to reflect Gods magnificence and His all-surpassing splendor, I wondered how we could possibly recapture in our hearts and minds a similar feeling of Gods grandeur and be reminded again of His greatness.
One way we can do that is to look beyond mans grand, regal structures and contemplate the greatness of what God Himself has created. Take one look at a starry night sky and think of Gods power as He spoke the universe into existence. Hold a newborn baby in your arms and thank God for the miracle of life itself. Look at the snow-covered mountains of Alaska or the majestic Atlantic Ocean teeming with millions of God-designed creatures and imagine the power that makes that ecosystem work.
Mankind is not wrong to reach for the sky with structures that are intended to point us to God. But our truest admiration should be reserved for God Himself as we say to Him, Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor (1 Chronicles 29:11).
INSIGHT
Davids prayer in 1 Chronicles 29 paints a beautiful portrait of a powerful and generous God. While these sentimentsGod is everlasting, everything belongs to Him, and He strengthens His peopleare all undoubtedly true, David isnt just praying a random prayer. First Chronicles 29 is about the people giving resources and materials to the building of the temple. Davids prayer follows a listing of the resources people donated to the building fundgold, silver, precious jewels, bronze, wood. We see a striking similarity between the descriptions of the building materials and the descriptions of God in that both are written in terms that inspire awe. The temple materials, both in amount and in type, would have been something to behold. Similarly, David describes God in terms that inspire awestruck reverence at His glory. Could it be that the writer was attempting to make the point that the house should reflect the occupant? The temple was where God resided among His people. Shouldnt it reflect His glory? Today Gods Spirit dwells in believers.
Knowing that you are the temple of Gods Spirit, how can you reflect His glory?