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I will never forget the day the news broke out that the church had been robbed.
We were running a summer camp for kids where we had an Xbox as well as other gaming systems for them to play with, when a couple of kids got the idea to break into the church and bring the gaming systems home with them. I was very confused. "How can anyone rob God?" I thought. "How is this possible?"
As a kid, I instantly began to question God's authority and His power, "I wouldn’t even let someone break into my house. Why would someone be able to break into Yours?"
Then, a second thought crossed my mind. Is it possible to break into heaven? Of course not. There has not been anything written in the Bible or even any foolish claims made otherwise of breaking into heaven and robbing God. And I think we all know some people that would try and walk off with a golden toilet or two from Jesus’s master bedroom if they had the chance.
As I got older, I realized that in the Old Testament, God had a church that consisted of great architecture and He was very protective over it. If anyone tried to enter into God's special place, they would die immediately.
"2 The Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron your brother he must not come at all times into the Holy of Holies within the veil before the mercy seat upon the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat. 3 But Aaron shall come into the holy enclosure in this way: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering." - Leviticus 16:2-3 AMPC
This is the kind of protection that we would expect over something called, "God's House."
In the New Testament, the death of Jesus brought us under a new covenant. We ourselves have become God's temple through the dedication of our lives which grants access to the Holy Spirit to dwell within us.
"19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 AMPC
The reason that someone can break in and rob "God's House" without suffering consequences is simply because He doesn’t live there.
"23 For as I passed along and carefully observed your objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you. 24 The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people]." - Acts 17:23-25 AMPC
Through Jesus sacrificing His life, God has gained a new permanent residence in the hearts and lives of those who have accepted the ways of Jesus and chosen to follow Him. We have been given the privilege of becoming part of the temple through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus. With the death of Jesus, God laid down a Cornerstone that, with the obedience and submission of many others, will complete the construction of God's temple. A temple built by His loyal followers laying down there lives one by one, or brick by brick.
Contrary to the temple built in the Old Testament with bricks and stones, the new temple consists of every believer who has submitted their entire life to God. This makes up the new temple.
"20 You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. 21 In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. 22 In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit." - Ephesians 2:19-22 AMPC
This is why Jesus says, "Just as I was sent, I also send you." Instead of bringing people in, He gives us the command to go out into all the nations of the earth and make disciples, which are people who are ready to put the things and people of this world behind.
"19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)." - Matthew 28: 19-20 AMPC
The Great Commission wasn't a suggestion. It was a command for all the disciples to go and make more disciples. The disciples were sent out on a mission similar to Jesus: to go and make more people who were ready and willing to forsake all and follow the calling and Great Commission of Christ.
"33 So then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple. 34 Salt is good [an excellent thing], but if salt has lost its strength and has become saltless (insipid, flat), how shall its saltness be restored?" - Luke 14:33-34 AMPC
What I’ve noticed about religion is that we aren’t in fact religious at all. We have actually become superstitious, believing that if we repeat the same thing, week in and week out, we will win the prize of Heaven. Our constant church appearances are merely something we have grown accustomed to doing in hopes of good luck or fortune with God.
"3 So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach, but do not practice" - Matthew 23:3 AMPC
"20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:20 AMPC
An interesting thought comes to mind. Would a group of religious people gathering together with no plans of devoting themselves to serve the living God be considered a cult?
"40 But now [instead] you are wanting and seeking to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth which I have heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted. 41 You are doing the works of your [own] father. They said to Him, We are not illegitimate children and born out of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me and respect Me and welcome Me gladly, for I proceeded (came forth) from God [out of His very presence]. I did not even come on My own authority or of My own accord (as self-appointed); but He sent Me." - John 8:40-42 AMPC
Even through our tithes we have become entitled, believing that God somehow owes us. The creator of the sun, moon and stars owes me because I gave him 7.25% of 500 bucks. Sadly, even our tithes are a direct representation of our commitment to God. After hearing of how His Son was murdered, beaten beyond recognition, we think 10% of our time and tithes pleases Him?
Imagine going up to a grieving father at a closed casket funeral, grudgingly offering 10% as payment for his son’s life. I think we can agree one funeral would probably turn into two that very day. Maybe we should sacrifice one of our own kids to get a clear understanding of what God is expecting from us.
I'm pretty sure even a dog would leave someone that only spent 10% of their time with it. On second thought, I would actually go to prison for neglecting my pet. Isn’t it disturbing that we adhere to the respect and consideration expected for animals more than the respect and consideration expected by the Creator of those same animals? Some would call for the death penalty if I neglected my pet by only catering to him once a week. But, somehow, we expect God to be pleased when His Son already received the death penalty for us.
1 But a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, 2 And with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? 4 As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God. 5 Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard of it. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped up [the body] and carried it out and buried it. 7 Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not having learned of what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? Yes, she said, for so much. 9 Then Peter said to her, How could you two have agreed and conspired together to try to deceive the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out [also].10 And instantly she fell down at his feet and died; and the young men entering found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And the whole church and all others who heard of these things were appalled [great awe and strange terror and dread seized them]." Acts 5:1-11 AMPC
With the death of Jesus, the standard has been risen, but grace to meet the standard has also been given. Through His grace and Holy Spirit, it is possible for us to live up to the standard He set with His life and death.
The sad reality is that a majority of Christian's only claim to Christ is their commitment to a building that God doesn't even reside at.
Question of the Day: If your spouse visited you once a week, would you expect a long lasting marriage? So why do we expect to spend eternity with Someone we don't want to spend everyday with?