1 Kings 8:6, New Living Translation

“Then the priests carried the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim.”

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, NIV)

“Do you not know that…” This was the approach the Apostle Paul took in his letter to the church of Corinth (1 Corinthians 6). His questions literally meant “you do know that”! So, my dear family in Christ, do you know you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? Do you also know what it means for you? Let us gain our understanding in the following Scripture:

“Then the priests carried the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim.” (1 Kings 8:6, NLT)

If we are made and become the temple of God, who is the priest for His temple? Would it be anyone other than Jesus – the high Priest? (Hebrews 4:14-15) The One who dwells in us is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, and Jesus is God. He is also the Word, and He has given us His word, the Word (the LORD’s Covenant) that He carried into you, dwelling in your body (the inner sanctuary of the Temple). The place that He dwells, He called the Most Holy Place. Therefore, He instructed us not to sin against our body, but instead to honor God with it. (Hebrews 6:18-20)

Through the process of Him dwelling within us, we are made holy (set apart for God Himself). Yet, this process also requires our continual participation. For we are made to keep the covenant – to keep His commands, decrees, and not to be a hearer of His Word only, but a doer. (James 1:22-25) Just as He promises, He will protect us, abide in us, bless us, and no one can come against us. (Revelation 3:10, Matthew 14:21, Deuteronomy 28:2, Romans 8:31) He will keep us in His presence and place us under His divine protection (placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim).

Do you know that God does not force us to be His temple, nor does He seek to change us in order to control us. In Him, we are made holy, we receive favor with His promise – His unchanging, unbroken, and never-failing promises. The promise of hope and a future.

I hope you do know you can live a life that is in Christ on earth as it is in heaven – holy in His presence.