Proverbs 24:3 A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.
Mark 13:1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.” 2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
When reading this scripture we know Jesus is talking with His disciples about the ominous tribulations that would mark the events of the end times. However, there is an interesting side-bar going on because what seems to impress the disciples is the grandeur and magnificence of man’s ability to create monuments and works of art to glorify man’s accomplishments, even though the building may have been dedicated to God.
Throughout history, different cities and cultures were the epicenters of their time. Whether it was one of these locations that brought us the Egyptian Pyramids, Mayan Temples, Babylonian Gardens, Greek Pantheon, Roman Colosseum or Las Vegas the glitter and perceived greatness have been to declare the same thing – look how great and godlike we are.
Mankind tends to look upon its accomplishments while the Lord is always looking at the people. We build stuff and God builds character within human hearts. We focus on art while God focuses on the artist. We put valuable importance on the buildings while the Lord puts all His heart and love into the population who will inhabit the buildings. Isa. 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. The best the world has to offer is temporary and earthbound at best. The world system only works in the world and cannot progress into the heavenly courts of God.
By faith, we have to be seated in heavenly places for our lives to be fulfilled in what God has created for us and what we were created for. Eph 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. The old expression “We are just traveling through this life and time” seems to be the state we need to understand and live in. We are admonished by the Lord to make sure the temporal things of the world – no matter how wonderful they are – do not take control of our soul and poorly influence our relationship with Christ. 2 Cor. 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
The world’s best offer no matter how glamorous, expensive, or beautiful it is, will never compare to the eternal riches that are ours through faith in Christ. Jesus is the perfect gift of God who meets our very essence of being. The world’s best can sometimes meet our human needs, but God’s gift reaches beyond that which we can imagine or think. God’s best will meet our eternal existence both now and forevermore. The world’s best will help us be a bit more comfortable while we live out our lives on this side of eternity.
There is nothing wrong with wanting or having nice things this world has to offer. They are wonderful blessings to be enjoyed and received with thanksgiving because they are part of God’s gift for living. Just remember to keep the world’s best in perspective. Don’t become so enamored by the temporary glory of the latest fad, toy, or fashion. As the Lord remarked these things will be completely demolished or lost to our ownership because we are only here for a short time.
The house we are to build by wisdom is the one offered in the kingdom of God through God’s grace. The one building or place that will not be broken down or demolished will be the place Jesus prepares for us because we chose Him first. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. Now that is an offer I cannot refuse. Blessings.
Sir Norm – this is sooo good! One of my favourites!