It’s not so much about what I read this morning, as it was about what it made me think of. I kind of had to power through Ezekiel 40 and 41 . . . kind of like I did in Exodus . . . kind of like I did in 1Kings . . . kind of like reading a divine blueprint. Literally! It was the blueprint of the tabernacle in Exodus . . . of Solomon’s temple in 1Kings . . . and of a temple, yet to grace this earth, in Ezekiel. And this future temple, which I think exists during the millennial kingdom, is a temple “on steroids.” Bigger . . . if I’m grasping it correctly, much bigger . . . than Solomon’s temple . . . than Herod’s temple . . . than anything I can really imagine. And it gets me thinking that having a temple on earth is kind of a big deal to God . . .

It was the 25th year of the exile when “the hand of the Lord” came upon Ezekiel and he was transported “in visions of God” back to the land of Israel where he was escorted by “a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand” (Ezek. 40:2-3). Talk about your divine pre-building inspection! Instead of being given a set of plans to read, Ezekiel is given a vision to behold and experience . . .

“And the man said to me, ‘Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.’ ” (Ezekiel 40:4 ESV)

The impact of this magnificent, jaw-dropping temple was better felt than just tell’t. With his eyes and ears, Ezekiel was to experience this yet to be constructed temple. He would walk about and behold it’s vastness . . . he would listen intently to his guide’s description and commentary . . . the dimensional details he would record. But beyond this, he was to set his heart upon what he was being shown . . . to fix his mind on more than just the instructions of the temple . . . but to also consider carefully the implications of the temple . . . ’cause the temple is kind of a big deal.

From the time of Moses and tabernacle . . . to the pinnacle of Israel as a nation and the architectural wonder of Solomon’s temple . . . to the priority of rebuilding the temple after the Babylon captivity . . . to the future day of Ezekiel’s vision and this temple “on steroids” . . . God desires a structure on earth where His glory might dwell . . . a place on “terra firma” where His presence might be known. So, if it’s such a priority to have a holy of holies here on earth, where’s the temple today? That’s the line of thought, reading in Ezekiel, that brought to mind another temple written about in Ephesians . . .

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)

As magnificent as that millennial temple will be . . . as “over the top” as it’s sheer size and construction will be . . . there’s a pretty impressive temple being built today. The “materials” are living stones . . . purchased by the blood of the Lamb . . . hewn by the sanctifying work of the Spirit . . . put in place by the same God who meticulously architected the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple and the temple of Ezekiel’s vision . . . that it might serve the same function as these other temples. That it might be a dwelling place for God . . . a habitation of His glory. Behold, the church . . . the living temple of the living God!

How jazzed should that make us feel? Pretty!

Having a temple on earth is kind of a big deal to God . . . being the temple of God on earth is kind of big deal . . . amen?