Where do you feel closest to God? One of my pastor friends prayed at the Western Wall of the Temple as we his brothers preached in Houston. It is so impressive to see the stones which Herod’s workers put in place over two thousand years ago. The foundation underneath is surely much older. So many people gather there to pray every day. We prayed there with our Tallowood group back in 2000. It is amazing to walk where Jesus walked.
Ezekiel and his people had been removed from Israel and carried away into exile. They knew God had left the temple. God felt so far away. At the end of his prophecies, Ezekiel envisioned a rebuilt temple from which water would flow, giving life to trees, fish, and people. The language he uses about a river giving life to trees with leaves for healing the nations is so like John’s description of the throne of God in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1-2).
Israel did return to their land in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Haggai tells us they rebuilt the temple, but it never resembled Ezekiel’s great vision. One of my good friends asked me when this temple would happen. God may, in fact, choose to have a literal temple in the city of Jerusalem again. I do not believe we will ever need to sacrifice animals because Jesus is the once and for all sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:1-8). Jesus said he had come to fulfill the law. Paul wrote that Jesus is the end or fulfillment of the law for all who believe (Romans 10:4).
For these reasons, my reading of the book of Hebrews and the New Testament leads me to believe that Ezekiel’s powerful vision offers a first glimpse at the New Jerusalem. In fact, we who make up the church are the temple of the Holy Spirit right now (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19). Jesus said if we believe in him a river of life will flow out of us (John 7:27-38). In the new heavens and new earth, the Lamb will be our shepherd and he will lead us to springs of life-giving water (Revelation 7:17). A river will flow out with trees on its banks giving healing and life (Revelation 22:1-2).
God is building his temple out of living stones like you and me on the foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5). No future hope should ever eclipse our present understanding of God’s work in the church. Wherever God’s people are he is already in our midst. At our best, we become a life-giving church. Our God sent his only Son to give up his life, so that we might have life and give life to others. Today, everywhere the Spirit leads us we can share life with others. God is with us always as we do his work. He is right here, giving us life. It is most amazing to walk with Jesus, wherever we are.
