Temples Under Construction

When Solomon built a temple for the Lord, his workers took seven years of diligent labor to complete it (1 Kings 6:38). By the time of Jesus' ministry, Herod's temple had been under construction for 46 years (John 2:20). Those were temples of stone, made by the hands of men. The New Testament tells about a different kind of temple—our own bodies, indwelt by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).

My own "temple" has been under construction for nearly 46 years, and it requires more maintenance than it used to! How are you doing with your own temple construction project? Here are three important questions to ask.

1. Are you grateful for your body? Since every glance at a mirror reminds us of our imperfections, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that our bodies are incredible gifts from God. In The Amazing Body Human (Baker, 1987), Dr. Mark P. Cosgrove points out some fascinating details:

• The DNA in a tiny fertilized egg contains more carefully coded information than a stack of encyclopedias, yet all the DNA filaments necessary to specify every unique human being on earth today would weigh only about one-fifteenth the weight of a postage stamp.

• The human face is capable of more than a quarter of a million subtle changes of expression. Only human beings can blush with embarrassment—and as someone pointed out, we're the only creatures that need to!

We should thank God for our bodies—but this leads to a second question . . .

2. Are you taking care of your body? Diet and exercise make a big difference. Remember Daniel's 10-day diet plan? In barely a week and a half, Daniel and his godly friends who ate vegetables and water were obviously healthier than those who had eaten the king's rich food and wine (Daniel 1:8–16). The Scripture warns us not to make legalistic rules about food and drink (Romans 14:13–18; Colossians 2:20–23; 1 Timothy 4:4), but God wants us to be good stewards of our bodies, not ruin them through laziness and self-indulgence. On the other hand . . .
3. Are you putting too much emphasis on your body? Today's body-conscious culture values physical attractiveness but tends to shortchange spiritual health. "Physical training is of some value," wrote the apostle Paul, "but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Do we pay as much attention to our spiritual fitness as we do to our physical health? Are we so busy adorning the outside of the temple that we are neglecting the inside? Modesty, decency, propriety, and good deeds matter more than the right hairstyle, fancy jewelry, or expensive clothes (see 1 Timothy 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:3, 4).

Someday the Lord will replace these imperfect bodies of ours with new ones that are imperishable, powerful, glorious, and spiritual. It won't take years of hard labor to complete those new temples. The Lord himself will do it "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:42–53). Until then, "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).