"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:13 tniv
Jesus urges us to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. In this context, the focus is on his promise to make those battling strong opposition to their faith into a permanent and heavenly temple for God.
While earthly buildings will crumble and fall, they are promised a permanent place in a permanent dwelling in which God lives. Throughout the New Testament, the Spirit repeatedly tells us that we are
(1) individually the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20);
(2) collectively, as a church, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16-17);
(3) being built into a temple where the Holy Spirit lives (Eph. 2:20-21); and
(4) we are living stones being built into God's temple (1 Pet. 2:4-5).
The ultimate, the final, and grandest promise of all is this one: those who are faithful even unto death and overcome are being built into God's eternal temple.
Today's Prayer
Dear God, my Father in heaven, everything around me is subject to aging, decay, and destruction. So I thank you for promising me something eternal and giving me the gift of your Holy Spirit to guarantee this promise and work in me to make me wholly yours. In Jesus' name I thank you. Amen.
