Under construction...

"When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible individual- and crushes him." Dr. Alan Redpath, The Making of a Man of God

This weekend God taught me some lessons on construction. The key to any structure is the foundation, it must be secure...so it is in the building of a life. During a road trip my friend Jade and I were discussing construction of the temple. Ezra and Haggai contain parallel accounts of the rebuilding of the temple. Sometimes God has to rip away the foundation of our lives and reduce it to complete rubble so He can rebuild. The Israelites experienced this destruction with the temple. 2 Chronicles details their attempts to restore, purify and repair the temple, yet with the reign of Nebuchadnezzar the temple was totally destroyed. Ezra 3:10-13, "When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals took their places to praise the Lord...and all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy." The key to this passage is verse 11. The foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. The foundation of a structure describes a lot about the building. The width, the height...if it will be a simple structure or elaborate. Interesting to note the reaction of the people. Older generations were weeping, while the new generation was rejoicing. Sometimes it is hard to let go of what we have built. We build our faith, our ministry, relationships, and careers without realizing the strong foundation we thought we had can be obliterated in one blow. We try to mend and repair what is broken, yet until God reaches our foundation the transformation is only temporary.

In Haggai we receive a glimpse of the new temple compared to the former. Solomon's temple was glorious. The older generation realized the new temple did not measure up, yet God reminds them to be faithful. Haggai 2:2-9 "Who is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, declares the Lord...This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear. This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once again more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, says the Lord Almighty. And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty." This passage is so rich. Do you see it? God realizes the Israelites are comparing. They see the former temple as more glorious. Isn't that what we struggle with? At the root of many of our "Why God?" questions we consider the past more glorious than the present. In our finite minds we think the career, relationship, church, status, and the list goes on was our moment. Yet God says hold on. What you thought you had doesn't compare with what I am about to do. I am going to take this life that appears to be less and fill it with my glory.

He also promises peace. As we allow Him to shake our foundation, rebuild from the rubble of the past and turn regrets, pain, and sorrow into riches we will experience overwhelming peace. He is in control. His future is better than our past or our present. Be strong today and realize tomorrow will come.