The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. John 2:20-22

Over twenty years ago, I watched it being built over a number of months and I remember attending the grand opening. It was a building not far from where I live. It has been occupied by more than one business and most recently been vacant.

On my way to the office one morning, I noticed some equipment around the building and several trucks. When I returned, later in the day, more than half the building was gone and by the next day the site where the building once stood was void of any trace of building and was a vacant parcel of property, scraped clean to the bare earth.

I pondered about how long it takes to build a building and how quickly it can be torn down. I thought of the passage of Scripture where the Jews challenged Jesus on his statement that he would tear down the Temple and rebuild it in three days – a structure that took forty-six years to build. He, of course was talking about a different kind of Temple.

I thought about how this applies to my life and recalled 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

As I contemplated that Scripture, it occurred to me about how long it takes to build up my body to be worthy and reflective of being a vessel of the Holy Spirit. It includes building character, integrity, trustworthiness and respect. It takes years to firmly ingrain those traits in a body created in sin.

But then consider how quickly our bodies can be torn down. We are tested by Satan and tempted by sin. Sometimes just one stumble can in a moment wipe out years of character building and Satan baits us when we are least expecting it and when we are most vulnerable.

We must all be careful to not stumble on sin and in an instant erase what God took years to build.

by John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

Further Reading

•  Random Acts of Kindness it is amazing how random acts of kindness affect those around you.
•  Encouraging Word
•  Salvation Explained

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The post Tearing Down or Building Up? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”  Matthew 25.19

Recently I met an Olympic medalist. He was excited and motivated about the Olympic competition. I was surprised to learn that combining the summer and winter Olympics that there are more than 400 Olympic events each requiring a different set of skills. His comment was there is something for everyone.

The heights of Olympic athletes ranges from 4 feet to 7 feet, each size adaptable to their respective sport. The man I met received a bronze medal in the ice-skating competition. He was thrilled even be on the Olympic team, much less to be a medalist.

He grew up with a background most unlikely to ever be Olympics skater. But he had a dream and his message was simply that everyone should live their dreams and use their God-given gifts to the fullest extent possible.

God has given each of us a multitude of gifts with a simple message of use them or lose them. God has given each of us all the gifts we need to carry out the mission that he uniquely created us to do here on earth.

A large part of our life is discovering the gifts that God has given us, and then using them to the utmost of our ability. If our eyes and our minds are not open discovering those gifts, which sometimes are right under our nose, we will pass them by and never be able to live our dreams and the dreams God has created us to enjoy and experience as we life.

Take time today to seek God’s presence and asked him what gifts he has given you and how He wants you to use them for his glory. Live life to the fullest. Use your gifts. Get ready for God to give you more than you could ever imagine. Live your dreams and get ready for new and more joyful ride through the journey of life.

By John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God; you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration; what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.”  Psalm 139: 13-16 (The Message Bible)

It is hard to believe that I have eight grandchildren. What a joy it is to have them all together at our house.

As I looked at each one, I could not help but realize how unique each one is. Though in the same family, they are so different in looks, personality and actions. And, the older they get, the more they will distinguish themselves as to their likes and dislikes, as well as their life career.

Looking at each, I wondered what they will be doing twenty, thirty or more years from now.

I thought of the psalmist’s description in Psalm 139 about our unique creation. Of all of the questions I am wondering about my grandchildren, God knew the answers while they were still in their mother’s womb. We are all marvelously made. God knows us inside and out and He knows every bone in our body. He sculptured us from nothing into something and all the stages of our life are spread out before Him, like an open book. He had prepared our life before we had even lived for a day.

Let us pause to celebrate the sanctity of human life, the uniqueness of creation and the fact that when people decide to terminate a human life for their own convenience that they are taking away and destroying God’s very own creation, for it is He who has made us and not we ourselves.

May we realize how precious human life is and speak out against those who want our laws to allow abortion in the name of choice.

By John Grant

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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