Last fall I had a new heating and air unit installed in my house. It was time. The one I had was eighteen years old, a large monster that sat in the back of my house. Everytime it came on we were unable to carry on a conversation on our back deck because of how loud it was. Plus, I kept wondering, “how much longer will this unit survive?” So we began the process of installing a new unit. But first the “inspection” had to occur. An individual came into our house to inspect our attic and our craw space to see if we had enough insulation. I knew we did not have enough insulation because out house did not heat up and cool down enough. I was right, we had poor insullation. The insulation was only half of what was needed. Then, we had two men come to install our new unit and that is where we found the real problem.
As the men were installing the new unit they found where the old pipes and duck work had been pulled a part below the house and we had been losing air. No wonder our old unit was not cooling properly. Still, we needed a new unit and now our house is feels like a warm home with new insulation and a new unit.
Let’s go back 2,000 years to another inspection, when Jesus walked into the Temple in Mark 11:15-17. This was the last week of Jesus’ life and he walked into the Temple and did an inspection. What did he find? He found people buying and selling, cheating and stealing from others. He found people misusing and abusing the Temple. The Temple was to be a place where people could come and meet with God, to worship and pray. Instead, He found no worship, no praying and no teaching of the Word. The Temple may have looking beautiful on the outside, but inside it was spiritually weak and not meeting the spiritual needs of people.
I think you know where I am going with this. Just as Jesus came and did an inspection of the Temple, He also comes and does an inspection to our temple. As believers we called a temple (see 1 Cor. 6:19 and Eph. 1:1). We house the very presence and life of Christ in us! But if Jesus came to do an inspection in you, what would He find?
It would be nice if inspections were only to take place on Sunday mornings when we are in church, worshipping and smiling. It would be nice if inspections took place on our terms, when we are ready. But God does not work to our schedule and our feelings. God knows and sees everything. He knows how we talk to our children, our spouses, and how we treat others at work. He sees how we spend our money and what we watch on TV. He comes into our temple and He looks around.
But that is just the inspection. Understand that the Holy Spirit may not say a word to you when he inspects, but He has a plan and He will act when the time is right. What is the result of that inspection? That is for next time.
Spend time reflecting on your temple, your heart, and begin to ask the Holy Spirit what He sees.
Mark Keyes
Vice-President of Infusion Ministries
Mark Keyes
