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CHRIST, the center, the Lord has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory [Psalm 102:16]. It is the promise of His word, And the Lord in His glory, builds you for a purpose that is glorious. He desires to dwell in your midst, to bless you with the fellowship of His loving presence that makes you overwhelmingly complete. And does He promise and not fulfill it? Certainly not! He has already spoken it, in saying, Upon this rock, I will build My church; And the gates of hell shall not overcome it [Matthew 16:18].
He will surely build, though there may be battles that arise, for, as the idiom goes, the evil one will inevitably try to throw a spanner in the works. The church resplendent in all its glory, signals that his end is near; and he knows it very well! God began by planting a garden, perfect in its design and provision where in fellowship with Him, Adam and Eve, would fulfill His purpose, and find their fulfillment. It was then that sin reared its ugly head to cause the fall of man. But God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Son, to die for its sins on the Cross of Calvary. He Himself is our peace, that by faith in Christ Jesus, you and I may approach freely the very presence of God, without guilt or shame to render worship unto Him, and be blessed in our communion with Him.
Calvary was God’s redemptive plan to restore man’s relationship with Himself, and He began as He called Abraham out of his gentile environment, to a relationship with Him, in a journey towards a city, of which, He Himself was the Architect and Builder. And Abraham marked his experiences of the presence of the Lord God, at significant moments of his life, by building an altar of sacrificial worship unto Him.
Later, when the Israelite’s, were delivered from their captivity in Egypt, under the leadership of Moses, and journeyed in the wilderness, towards the Promised Land, they traveled in stages, dwelling in tents, as they were guided by the Lord. And the Lord God made His wish to dwell in the midst of them clear, as He instructed Moses to build a sanctuary in the middle of the camp, which would be the Tent of His Presence. And its specific pattern, the intricate design and workmanship involved in building it, was clearly laid out to Moses, by Him.
And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle, the pattern of all its’ furnishings, just so you shall make it [Exodus 25:8,9]. The pattern of His dwelling place came from Him, as He was the Architect and Builder, and it also was the uniqueness of it. For it is the common practice even today, in many homes to have a prayer room, or a particular area that is earmarked to be the place of devotion, highlighted maybe with religious symbols.
But it is all done according to human or practical considerations, and also is predominantly external. And today, one can see all around, how concentrating on the externals when it comes to any faith can cause havoc in society. It is why scripture advocates that you do not live according to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,by God’s word. It would be your spiritual act of worship [Romans 12:2]. And God never prescribes something without there being a reason behind it.
Who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’ [Hebrews 8:5]. The tabernacle, or the sanctuary which was to signify the Lord’s dwelling place among His people was essentially going to be where they worshiped the Lord in reverence and awe. And therefore the symbolism that lay behind the very particular specifications that God ordained in the construction of the tabernacle, and the pattern of worship, was so that, what was happening in heaven, could be experienced here on earth.The question of when, where, and whom, with regard to worship, were clearly laid out, by God. It was what the Samaritan woman found out to her surprise, as she faced the Savior of the world!
She was acclimatized to a world that was divided in its worship, and hence was focusing on what was in essence something that was not the truth, as she spoke about Jews and Samaritans worshiping on different mountains [John 4:20]. And Lord Jesus ministered to her by responding with the the truth concerning worship, and the worshiper that was pleasing to the Father. ‘But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth’ [John 4:24,25]. It is a ‘must’ and there is no other option, to it. God has established a godly, heavenly pattern, and has done so in order that the goodness of heaven can be part of your life here on earth. It is also why, man made ordinances and self styled worship find no place in God’s order of things. There is a divine order, design and pattern that comes from Him, for the reality of it all, the substance is of Christ [Colossians 2:17]. It is the truth that needs to be applied in you. God’s pattern needs to become your lifestyle, and it happens when He is in the centre.
Your life needs to be Christ centered in every sense of the word. It is then that the will of God in your life will be according to what it is in heaven. And it is then that you can say with the apostle Paul, ‘I have been crucified with Christ; I no longer live, and the life I now live in the body is by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me’ [Galatians 2:20].
It becomes possible as you receive with understanding and faith, His promises that come to you by His word to speak into every aspect of your life,in every challenge that you face, and is the deciding factor in every situation that leaves you confused, not knowing what path to choose. In other words, godly design and pattern becomes yours when God’s word is at the centre of your life, to become your lifestyle. A simple but powerful analogy of it would be the earth in which you and I live, the solar system, as the very name suggests, being sun centric, for everything revolves around it. In the same manner your life needs to be Son – centric, spiritual living! It is then that with a God centered, God’s design, with His word at the center, His goodness becomes your experience here on earth, as a foretaste of what it is going to be in its fullness in heaven.
It is what Paul has explained in his letter to the Romans, beginning by pointing out the truth that God is to be glorified for all things are of Him and through Him, and to Him [Romans 11:36]. And therefore, from it flows what needs to be done so that God centered spiritual living may become your lifestyle. Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies, a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship [Romans 12:1].
It is only fitting and right to offer your body, since your identity is tied to it, unto God as a living sacrifice, or live a life that acknowledges that everything is from Him. It is acceptable to God, and is your intelligent worship of Him, one that involves your mind, your intellect that gives you understanding to know that everything is from Him, to offer it all to Him. And it is with intelligence and faith that God’s pattern can be established in you.
But, vain worship, made of empty rules, is what can be seen in the world around you. Therefore , the scripture goes on to say – Do not be conformed to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind [vs 2]. For, the world has its own pattern, one that is radically different, preaching its own ideology that is contrary to the thoughts and ways of God. And behind it all is the devil who quickens the spirit of disobedience that is there in the heart of every person who is born into this sinful world. It is there even in the christian, though he now has the power to overcome it.
In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience [Ephesians 2:2]. It is the evil one or the prince of the power of the air who defines the course or pattern of the world, working disobedience in a person, only to hinder the blessing of God in one’s life. It is why Paul writes to the christians to say that though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does [2 Corinthians 10:3]. Spiritual weapons are needed to combat the wiles of the devil, who makes doing godly things very difficult and tiring. Watching television could see the hours pass by swiftly, while reading God’s word on the other hand can be a task that is dull and boring.
Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others [Ephesians 2:3]. Living according to the pattern of the world also gives room for the devil to take advantage of, and exploit the God given, natural desires of the flesh or the body. The evil one can play mind games, using the fact that the mind is connected to the body to influence you wrongly.
And at the root of it all would be the prominence and importance that is given to the ‘self’ or ‘I’, in you, that ultimately ends in eternal doom and not the blessing of God. For, the moment you choose to put yourself in the center of your life, it makes the devil’s work very easy to lead you astray, and away from the purposes of God for your life. Conflicts and strife, big and small erupt at short notice. And one can try to pin the blame for it on a person, place or thing. But looking deeper it would be seen that the cause is internal, one that is embedded within a person. Even as the Bible, the timeless book of truth declares – Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasures that war among your members? [James 4:1]. And how the selfish and ungodly desires for the things of the world expresses itself is also so clearly laid out – You lust and you do not have; you murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have, because you do not ask [vs 2].
It captures the story of king Ahab in the Old Testament. And today’s newspaper will give you a fresh update! But when God is at the center of your life, you will know that you do not have to violently grab, as you only have to ask your Heavenly Father, who is waiting to give you, all that you need in life! The tone of your prayer will be so beautifully different. And it is when you place yourself in the center, to ask with a wrong motivation, and wrong motives, that you ask and do not receive. [vs 3] Painting a powerful picture of the consequences of following the pattern of the world, the apostle then clinches the argument in strong language to say – Adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God. Whoever therefore who wants to be a friend of the world, makes himself an enemy of God. [vs 4] The warning is loud and clear about being conformed to the pattern of the world. But it is the desire of the God who so loves you, that He may dwell in your midst, even as He has spoken to Moses – And let them build me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. [Exodus 25: 8]
To be in the center of your life, is the will of God, the Builder and Architect, who has designed your life to be as Eden, the garden of His design.
You could be in a place of frustration though, hemmed in by self effort that brings no increase. But in prayer, as you make Him the center your life, seeking to learn from Him, His godly principles applied by grace and faith, will make it a place of prosperity. You will be transformed to reign in life, when the King of kings is at the centre of your life, to move from frustration to fruitfulness.
Anxious thoughts come to all. And the one who has no relationship with God is overwhelmed by it, for his thoughts are always centered around his own self- ‘What will I do? What will I eat? What will I wear?’ it goes! It is the pattern of the world, and is one that is designed to lead to anxiety. But you have an option, when God is at the center of your life, and you seek Him, trusting in the Father who knows your need.
A change in your thought process, or a shift in your thinking is what needs to happen, one that is in essence a dethroning of the self and an enthroning of God at the center of your life. And God will be your Helper as you are transformed by the renewing of your mind. He takes center stage and He is the God in whom all things hold together. And as His word dwells in you richly, though the future may appear bleak, you will know that your times are in His hands. When depressing thoughts of weakness in old age arise, you can be confident that planted in the house of God, you will be fruitful even in your silver and golden years.
The word of God will enable you to refocus, and by repentance, that is a change in your thinking, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Therefore, a continual updating needs to happen in you, day after day, by His word, to result in Him transforming you, according to His divine pattern. As a result, ‘Not I but Him’, will become the truth anchored within your soul. And then,it is not ‘What can I do ?’ but ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ that will be your confident confession even in life’s daunting challenges.
Therefore, even now, as you yield unto the Father in prayer, thanking Him for His word, may Jesus be the center of your life, keeping you from being conformed to the world, or the manipulations of the devil. And may you be transformed by the renewing of your mind through His incorruptible word that constantly updates you. And may Jesus be the fire in your soul, the fire wall that keeps you virus free! May He be the very reason that you live, and the blessing of His word be your portion, now and forever.
In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
