The ancient Israelites were blessed with the Temple of God--a present reminder that God was with His people. Today each Christian is a temple of God, a blessing even greater than what the Israelites had. The Scriptures tell us that the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit dwell within each of us (John 14:17, John 14:23, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 3:17, 2 John 9). There are many things that this does not imply, but in this article we want to discuss the things that are implied.

   God has always been with His people, but the Old Testament Temple was a concrete reminder of the presence of God. King Solomon--who built the Temple--knew that it was not a "container" for God (1 Kings 8:27), for not even heaven itself could contain all that is God. Yet God gave them a Temple so that they could feel close to Him. God was always with them; the Temple reminded them of that fact:

     Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. (Psalm 139:7-12)

   The Israelites could look to the Temple--to the presence of God--for admonishment, comfort and courage. They needed admonishing, for they often turned from God and His law. As they turned to idols, the sin was not just in the sight of God, it was in the presence of God. They abandoned the Temple--where dwelt God--and served images that were nothing but dead wood or stones.

     Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. (2 Chronicles 24:18)

   As Israel, then Judah, became more depraved, they even began to introduce idolatry into the Temple itself. Imagine it: Idols where the living God was said to dwell!

     [Manasseh] even set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. . ." (2 Chronicles 33:7)

   All sins where made more despicable when committed in the presence of God:

     Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' To silent stone, 'Arise! It shall teach!' Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet in it there is no breath at all. But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." (Habakkuk 2:19-20)

   Having God among them should have warned them to watch their behavior. In all that they said or did, they should remember that God was there.

     I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells. (Psalm 26:6-8)

   What of us? If our bodies are the temple of God, should we not be admonished by God's presence? Indeed we should:

     Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:18-19)

   Thus Paul shows us just how wicked the sin of fornication is: no less than sacrilege against God's Holy Place. In fact, all sin can be characterized this way. When we consider the communion and closeness that we have with God dwelling within us, how appalling the thought of sinning should be! God is not only watching us, He is within us. Therefore Paul urges us,

     ... do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

   The ancient Temple--as the dwelling of God--was also a source of great comfort for the Israelites. The sense of nearness to God did not simply discourage sin; it encouraged a more godly attitude. Solomon asked God to forgive His people when they prayed toward the Temple (1 Kings 8:30). How comforting these words of God must been:

     I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. (1 Kings 9:3)

   Does this affect your conduct? Do you behave differently when near the Temple, the presence of God? You should:

     "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these abominations'? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 7:9-11)

   Christians are called a royal priesthood for God (1 Peter 2:9). Jesus assured us that God would hear us whenever we pray in His name (John 14:13). Jesus is with us always (Matthew 28:20). Even in the depths of prisons, Christians can know that God has not deserted them. Even in the hour of death, Christians should be assured that God cares for them (1 Peter 5:7).

   What courage should fill our hearts! God is near. Whom should we fear?

     At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me. . . . (2 Timothy 4:16-17)

   When confronted by the armies of Sennacherib, Hezekiah went to the Temple and laid his heartfelt petition before His protector (Isaiah 37:14). No doubt, the Temple--with the feeling of nearness to God that it brought--brought him hope for deliverance.

   In these temples of flesh, we know that God hears us:

     Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14)

   What courage we should feel knowing that God is so near! Satan cannot harm us as long as we are true to God (James 4:9). Man can do no real harm (Matthew 18:28).

   As temples of God our bodies admonish us, comfort us and give us courage. How can we sin when God is within us? Why should the night scare us when the God of all creation listens to us? Why should we hesitate to speak out for Him who remains beside us?

   The scriptures do not speak in terms of butterflies in the stomach, goose bumps on the skin, or "something better felt than told." But God is near us. His Spirit dwells within us. Jesus will not forsake us.

   As the temple of God, let us all sanctify ourselves for Him.