Only in the Throne (Genesis 41:40) will I be greater than thou.
I know that my body (1 Corinthians 6:19) is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I know that my body (2 Corinthians 6:16) is the temple of the Living God. Jesus Christ is Owner and King of the temple and He appointed me governor to accomplish His purpose in and through the temple. How can I do that? Has the King provided any instructions or equipment for me or am I stuck on my own for an impossible task? Oh look! There’s a package addressed to me and I rush to open it WOW! Jesus Christ is made to me (1 Corinthians 1:30) wisdom – righteousness – sanctification and redemption. Now I get it. As governor I have the King’s authority to exercise His very own power in every circumstance and situation in order to govern for His purpose and His glory and His exaltation. We are commanded (1 Corinthians 10:31) to do everything we do to the glory of God. We’ll never know how to do that until we open the package. How does that work in practical ways? Picture me stepping into a crowded elevator in my building. A person there says something to me – something very nasty – insulting – uncalled for and untrue. My carnal nature rears up ready to dish out double. BUT I remember my position and my authority so I exercise godly wisdom and refrain from dishonouring the King in His own temple. Do you see how freeing that is? This is the freedom (Galatians 5:1) wherewith Christ has made us free.
Just as He gave me (John 1:12) the authority to become a child of God. Do you recognize what that authority is? It is my magnificent, God-given free will. Because I have been rescued and redeemed (Romans 6:14, 22) from the dominion of sin, I am completely free to make my own choices. I don’t waste my time trying to live the Christian life. I exercise my authority and choose to obey God. Now – here is the wonder and the marvel - - are you listening? When I – a human – choose to obey the Lord – my choice activates (Philippians 2:13) the Almighty power of the Sovereign God on my behalf! (are your eyes leaking too?) The choices are mine and just as surely the consequences are mine. Not on my own strength of course but depending on the enabling power of the Holy Spirit – continually being filled (Ephesians 5:18) with the Spirit and confident in (2 Thessalonians 2:13) His ongoing work of sanctification. Sanctification is a life-long process and as the King’s servant I can learn as I grow. I can also learn from my failures. When a foolish, childish response fills me with shame because I have grieved my Lord and King in His own temple. When I do, He doesn’t fire me from my position but patiently instructs me with His wisdom (Psalms 37:5 ,7,27) Rest in the Lord – don’t strive on your own – choose the good of obedience – and you shall flourish as governor in His temple where you live. I can see a Divine strategy, commit – trust – obey – live securely. BUT – BUT – BUT there is something in my package I haven’t shown you yet – the most valuable – essential – precious truth.
Look at the verse again. It does not say that Jesus gives me wisdom, righteousness, etc. It says that JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF is made to me. Jesus Christ and all He is – for whatever and wherever – He is ALL I need.
(Philippians 2:13) – it is God – vs.14 therefore you do – vs.15 – so that you may be. Let me put that another way. For me (Philippians1:21) to live is Christ. What does that mean? Jesus said (John 6:53) except you eat My flesh and drink My blood – in other words – except I take into myself His very life. I live yet (Galatians 2:20) not I but Christ lives in me. When Jesus takes up residence within a believer through the Holy Spirit, He comes with all His characteristics and with the lovely traits (Galatians 5:22-23) of His personality. So if I ever get into a situation (similar to the imaginary elevator scene) I can choose to allow the King to use the members of my body/His temple to handle it in His way. Actually, since I’m not the owner, I have no right at all to behave in any way that would misrepresent and dishonour the Owner Who paid such a price.
As a servant of the King (Galatians 5:24) I’m not on His staff for self-indulgence. Anything my carnal nature lusts for is crucified for the greater glory of obeying the King and being a part of the accomplishment of His eternal purpose. I must have nothing to do with sin in any way. Sin belongs to hell and the devil. I belong to heaven and the Lord. I am on the royal road. Why would I ever choose and fill my mind with garbage – thought – desires, when I can sit at the King’s table and drink in His wisdom because of my relationship with Him? That’s why (Philippians 1:21) to die is great gain – to die to self-interest, self-promotion, self-assertiveness, self-gain – and all the self-sins. To live (John 10:10) abundantly is for (John 3:30) self to decrease until I’m free of it.
Join me in some thoughts I had which captivated my imagination and drew a vivid picture. Are you with me? O.K.– here’s the scene. I’m having company for dinner and you are one of my guests. For dessert I decided to make a cake so I assembled all the necessary ingredients. I knew which to sift – fold in – stir in – cut in – beat in etc. then I carefully blended everything together and was very watchful over the temperature and time for baking. The cake was exceptionally delicious and everyone mentioned it several times. But what if I had not blended it thoroughly or left out some ingredients or (insane thought) just served you the ingredients – separately, unbaked – each on its own? I don’t think you would have praised my cake. What am I talking about and where am I going with this? Maybe you’ve already guessed. And we KNOW (do we really?) that ALL things (Romans 8:28) – not individual things on their own – work together for good. Not every one of our circumstances seems/feels good. God works and blends all our circumstances – good - bad – indifferent – TOGETHER for the good of building our character and making us like Jesus. Every detail is essential to be included and rightly blended. Are you so foolish as to think God cares less about every detail of your life then I did about my cake??? A million years from now we’ll still be enjoying our “cake” and we’ll be thanking and praising God for His perfect wisdom in choosing the right ingredients and blending them with precision.
Will we ever – even in the endless ages of eternity – be able to describe the love, wonder, beauty, mystery of the God Who became Man? I know that the King also appointed you as governor in His temple where you live. We are richly endowed with spiritual blessings and riches, aren’t we?
As fellow-governors we join together in saying – all the time, everywhere and in everything - -
