Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and they had two hundred singing men and singing women. Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty. Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they came to Yahweh’s house which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for God’s house to set it up in its place. They gave according to their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.”
(Ezra 2:64-69)

“How lovely are your dwellings,
    Yahweh of Armies!
My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh.
    My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Yes, the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young,
    near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house.
    They are always praising you. Selah.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.
Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs.
    Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings.
They go from strength to strength.
    Every one of them appears before God in Zion.”
(Psalm 84:1-7)

When the call went out, people FLOCKED to the opportunity to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple. There was a joy about it. Even those who didn’t return physically donated money and time in prayer about it. The people were grateful and joyous that the promises of God were coming to pass. That He had been faithful in bringing them about. That once again they would have a dedicated place where they could feel His presence and bask in their love for Him and His for them.

There is something special about places where the Lord is or has been. There is a peace and tranquility that goes far beyond a quiet, restful spot. There is a true sense of calm. There is something that invites you to look up. To open up. To worship the One whose presence you are recognizing. Not a hushed awe, but a joyous WHOOP of thanksgiving and gratefulness. There is real joy in His peace. There is real comfort in His presence. There is an abandon to giving Him what is rightfully His that is found no where else but in His presence. It has always been special and it will always be special. Our interactions with the Most Holy and High God are not trivial, but life changing.

Summary

While churches and cathedrals and chapels are special places, we have BETTER promises. We ourselves are the Temple of Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). WE are what He inhabits. WE are where He makes His home. We can experience His presence every day. We can have the same JOY and PEACE and worshipful gratefulness. We can interact with Him at any time and in any place we are because He is inside of us. We don’t need to reach the gates of Heaven. He resides within us. We don’t need our prayers to break through the ceiling. We can whisper into our own hearts. We are with Him and He is with us and it is an AMAZING blessing. It is something we should NEVER forget or fail to take advantage of. God is WITH US. God is tabernacling inside each and every one of us. What a privilege. What an honour. What a BLESSING.