That...is one of those NT verses you may hear quoted from time to time for ‘dramatic effect’ in a sermon...but then we move on to other things and fail to give serious consideration as to what Peter was trying to convey there. I mean just that somber inference to those who don’t ‘obey the gospel of God’...what does ‘obedience’ have to do with any of this much talked about ‘faith alone’ we hear about all the time? (Luke 6:46; Heb. 5:9; 2 Thess. 1:8).
“Obey....the gospel?” How many of you were taught early on that just meant to ‘really believe in your heart’...and that you would be ‘fine’; no need to worry!? What is there to ‘obey’ besides ‘accept and believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God’? Well, for starters, the demons ‘believe’ and they tremble. (James 2:19)
Or perhaps you are in the school of thought that teaches no need for ‘church folks’ to be overly concerned because they’ll be long gone from here when ‘judgement’ begins to fall, thanks to the ‘rapture’. And besides, were you not also taught that God “no longer punishes us for our sins because Jesus took all our punishment for past, present, and future sins?”
And yet, we have Peter’s words to contemplate about impending judgment coming/falling on...the household of God, first. This would be the same Peter who also admonished us to be “holy in ALL our conduct...throughout the time of our stay here...in fear” (1 Pet. 1:15-17).
When you come across verses like these in your NT, do you ever stop and wonder...what did those early church fathers know that we seem to be missing in our modern day theology that offers us ‘peace and safety’ ? (1 Thess. 5:2-6; Jer. 23:16-20)
No...I have not moved on nor forgotten about our our study in 2 Kings 22-23 where King Josiah was taking drastic action with cleansing the temple. I simply wanted to remind us all about this connection with the past and today... in the fact that God no longer dwells in ‘houses or temples’ built with men’s hands (Acts 17:24).
“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 Cor. 3:16-17). Please go read that again, aloud. And then, take a look at Mark 7:21-23 to be reminded what ‘defiles’ God’s ‘temple’ today. Galatians 5:19-21 includes a more extended list, and then Romans 8:13 adds serious clarity.
Allow me to point out a small detail that the Lord brought to my attention this past weekend regarding this story of Josiah in 2 Kings. We knew he started out his reign wanting to ‘do right’ before God (2 Kings 22:2). Praise Jesus for sincere intentions when we first begin this walk, or even after we ‘rededicate’ ourselves to God. We learned in this story that Josiah was providing funds so some much needed ‘repairs’ on the temple of God could be addressed after years of neglect and abuse. But it wasn’t until after Josiah heard the reading of God’s law...that his ‘clean-up project’, more like a ‘light dusting and maybe a coat of paint or two’... was amped up multiple degrees. A detailed look at chapter 23 would make that clear. There was a whole lot of ‘breaking down, removing, grounding to ashes, pulverizing, tearing out, burning, breaking in pieces and crushing’ that took place in that clean-up project; not to mention some public executions of those responsible at the time for this desecration of God’s holy place...that took place (23:20).
I’m not always sure who my ‘audience’ is here that reads regularly, but I get the impression at times there may be more women than men reading, which is fine; and they (you) will probably appreciate this next confession of mine more. But when it comes to cleaning our home here in California, (or in Texas previously)...my wife’s idea of a good ‘cleaning’ differs greatly’ than that of myself when she declares it’s time to ‘clean house’. She tends to use this term ‘deep clean’ which can be lost on me when she mentions it. IYKYK :- )
If you have been hanging with me here in this recent study, you should have a good idea as to what the condition of the temple was in when Josiah began his reforms, and how it got to be in this condition (2 Kings 21). I point this out because as most of us know, whether we are talking about homes that deteriorate over time, or simply accumulate ‘dust and grime’, the process is gradual, to the point it is hard to really notice the decline (or build up) given how subtle It can be.
And the same thing goes for our walk of faith and relationship with others, especially when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. Do you remember the word of caution recorded in Hebrews 2:1, about how we ought to give the more ‘earnest heed to the things we have heard taught lest we drift away’? We know how subtle ‘drifting’ can be. This is why I am prompted to refer back to the seven letters that were written to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. Several of them were being called out for doing the very same thing- drifting away. One was rebuked for ‘losing/leaving their first love’(2:4). Another was deceived to think they really had things going well and were ‘alive’ but were told just the opposite by Jesus, and how they better be quick to repent...or else’ (3:1-3). And the same could be said about that last church in Laodicea and how blind they were to their wretched condition ...thinking they had it all figured out (3:15-19). No wonder the prophet of old uttered this warning: ‘Woe to you who are at ease in Zion’ (Amos 6:1).
So what better way to fully appreciate a good ‘make over’, which many of us enjoy watching on TV, whether it’s a house, an old classic car, or just a simple hair and make-up job done on someone who has ‘let themselves go’...than to see the ‘before and after’ pictures we so love. Which is why I now refer you back to 1 Kings 8. It’s the account of King Solomon dedicating this temple of God which had finally been completed. You’ll want to take your time with this one since it is a long chapter, and has plenty of verses begging to be underlined/highlighted.
But pay close attention to what transpired when the Ark of the Covenant was brought in by the priests, which contained the two tables of stone (the law), which Moses had put in there (6-11). We are told that ‘it came to pass’...when the priests came out of the holy place that the cloud filled with the house of the Lord...in such a way that the priest could not continue ministering because of this cloud of God’s presence...that filled the temple.
That...is a picture of its original condition, when God first ‘moved in’ to His new house. Today...we are invited not only to ‘abide in Him’, but He, God Himself...chooses and desires to ‘abide in us (John 14:15-27; 15:1-8). King Josiah was aware of this and wasted no time in doing a ‘deep clean’ of a much neglected temple. The same could be said about those ‘wise virgins’ who fell asleep...and when they woke up...recognized the urgency of the hour and finished ‘making themselves ready’ to meet the bridegroom. (Matt. 25:6-10; Rev. 19:7-9). Meet me back here tomorrow...I’m just getting warmed up.
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