End Times
And His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:1-2
Sometimes a sign can be a conspicuous absence such as the absence of the Temple in Jerusalem today. Jesus spent a lot of time predicting how Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Romans (as happened in AD 70). He said specifically that not one stone would be left upon another. This was an incredible thing for him to say. It shocked the disciples. They assumed that he must be speaking about the end of the world, that only this could possibly cause such destruction. Especially since God had promised: “For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.” (2 Chronicles 7:16)
But now, if we go back to Matthew 23, this is what Jesus says to Jerusalem: “See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” What made the temple special was that God had chosen it to dwell in among His people. Now he does not call it “My house” but “your house” and “desolate.” He will dwell there no more.
But God still comes to dwell with His people! Jesus lives and He is the temple. He who bounded forth from the grave and who dwells in your hearts by faith is building you into a holy temple in the Lord.
Let the absent temple point your hearts to the ever-present Lord. Heed the warning: the heart that rejects Christ will finally be left absent and destroyed. Instead, fix your hearts and eyes on Jesus. God has come to dwell with you!
Heavenly Father, let us love Jesus and treasure His Word that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit might live and reign in our hearts. Amen.