Several years ago, some of the technology we now take for granted was just beginning to become available for the average person’s use. Some of you may chuckle at this, but I remember when cell phones, the internet, texting, and even email were only things the high-tech people had. One of the claims of those promoting the use of these advancements was that they would free up our schedules so we could work more efficiently and therefore, need to work less hours. That prediction proved to be false. The technology did increase efficiency and output, but instead of giving us more free time, it actually increased our demand for even greater productivity.
I feel this pressure even in my job. The Body of Christ expects our preaching and teaching to be Spirit led, but that must happen before 9:30 on Sunday morning. I hear myself praying, “God, I want to hear your voice this week, but could you make sure this happens by Thursday, so I have time to get everything together by Sunday?”
God is not against productivity. He wants us to be fruitful in all we do. However, there are areas of our lives where it would be good if we just relaxed and slowed down a bit. Over these past few weeks, we have been discovering some areas God would ask us to make sacred in our lives. If we choose to do this, we must discover how we should approach the sacred things of God. Here, God commands us to move forward with caution. We cannot treat these areas of our lives as we do everything else or they are no longer sacred to us but become common and unimportant. We are reminded of this by the command of Jesus that even our prayer must begin by recognizing God’s holiness; that he is the almighty, powerful creator of the universe. Therefore, we must approach him in reverence.
We see this modeled for us through the instruction for the Old Testament High Priest entering the Holy of Holies. Also, Solomon gives good teaching in Ecclesiastes 5:1-3, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.”
We need to allow ourselves to understand the awe and wonder of being part of the Body of Christ. Paul refers to this privilege as a profound mystery in Ephesians. We are mere mortals, welcomed into the most holy throne room of God. Even angels are required to cover themselves with their wings in God’s presence as they offer worship (Isaiah 6:2-3). We must slow down long enough to marvel at this truth.
As members of the Church of Jesus, we are part of something greater than ourselves; we are part of something sacred. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are God’s Temple, the dwelling place of his Holy Spirit.
Slow down! Stop! Reflect and meditate on who God has made you to be in Christ. And as you approach those things you deem to be sacred in your life, give them the reverence they deserve.