Temple Under Construction

1 Corinthians 3:16 is a very familiar scripture, and it reads “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” I’ve always heard this scripture and thought, “Yes, I am the temple of God. God makes His home in me, and I need to take care of myself, as I am His home.” But as I was studying the other day, God gave me a new revelation about this scripture and the others surrounding it.

There is not much in this world that just appears out of no where, without first going through a process, so why have I always pictured in my head that my temple was already complete? Whenever I heard 1 Corinthians 3:16 in the past, I thought of myself as God’s home, which I am, but it never entered my mind that this “home” is not yet complete. It’s not that I have ever thought of myself as perfect, but I simply never before read this scripture and saw the “Temple Under Construction” sign.

Jesus becomes the foundation poured in your life when you get saved, and YOU then choose what you build on that foundation. Every choice you make in your life is also a block used to build your temple. After all, it is your choices which ultimately determine your destiny: who you choose to associate with, where you choose to go (or not to go) to church, whether or not you choose to obey when God speaks to you, etc. 1 Corinthians 3:12,13 tells us that no matter what materials we use to build our temple, it will one day be tested based on character and worth. Even though you’re saved, you still have free will – that didn’t disappear with salvation – and God will let you make your own mistakes. He will allow you to put a block in the wrong place or use the wrong material if that’s what you choose, but He does also cause all things, even your mistakes, to work together for your good. The point is, God lays the foundation, and you build the temple.

The first couple verses of 1 Corinthians 3 talk about being spiritual babies, and we learn that the mark of a baby in Christ is someone who allows their carnal nature to dominate their life, someone who is under the control of ordinary impulses. You can choose to obey God and build your temple according to His blueprints or you can choose to remain a baby and build your temple according to your own fleshly blueprints. However you choose to build it, just know that someday it will be tested.

I’ve been very privileged to live in nice places my whole life. I grew up in a beautiful house and throughout college I lived in nice apartments, but it is only now that I am married and own my own home that I can really decorate it the way I want to. You wouldn’t believe the difference it makes when you can live in a home that is yours and can be painted and decorated exactly to fit your tastes. Now think about your temple as God’s home. Just as you wouldn’t like to live in an environment not suited to your tastes, God doesn’t either. God makes His home in you when you get saved and is happy to inhabit that home even throughout the construction process, but make sure that you’re building that home to suit God’s tastes, not your own – being obedient to His Word and not to your flesh. Your temple should always be “Under Construction.” No home pops up with a snap of the finger and your temple will be the same way…but don’t grow weary in well doing – in the construction process – because if you faint not, you will reap a reward and God will be pleased with the home you’ve built for Him!