June 22

Morning

Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’ — Zech 6:13 BSB

Christ Himself is the builder of His spiritual temple, and He has built it on the mountains of His unchangeable love, His omnipotent grace, and His infallible truth. Yet, as with Solomon’s temple, the materials must be made ready. The “Cedars of Lebanon” exist, but they are not yet ready for construction—they must be cut down, shaped, and fashioned into those fragrant planks that will fill the courts of the Lord’s house in paradise. Likewise, there are rough stones still in the quarry that must be chiseled and squared. All of this is Christ’s work. Every believer is being prepared, polished, and made ready for their place in the temple, but it is Christ’s own hand that does the preparing.

Afflictions cannot sanctify us on their own, except as tools in the hands of Christ. Our prayers and efforts cannot make us ready for heaven apart from the work of Jesus, who alone can shape our hearts. Just as there was no sound of hammer, axe, or any tool of iron in Solomon’s temple because everything was prepared beforehand, so it is with the temple that Jesus is building. All preparation is done here on earth. When we reach heaven, there will be no more sanctification, no more chiseling by affliction, no more planing by suffering. No, we must be made ready here and now. Christ will complete this work in us, and when He does, we will be carried by His loving hand across the river of death and brought into the heavenly Jerusalem, where we will stand forever as pillars in the temple of our God.

“Beneath His eye and care,
The edifice shall rise,
Majestic, strong, and fair,
And shine above the skies.”

Evening

The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain. — Heb 12:27 BSB

At this moment, we possess many things that can be shaken, and it is unwise for a Christian to place too much value on them, for nothing beneath these changing skies is stable. Change is written on all things. Yet, we have certain things that cannot be shaken, and tonight I invite you to reflect on them. If everything that can be shaken is taken away, we can still find comfort in the things that remain.

Whatever losses you may suffer, you still have your present salvation. You stand at the foot of the cross, trusting in the merit of Jesus’ precious blood, and no fluctuation in the world can affect your salvation in Him. No market crash, no bank failure, no worldly disaster can touch that.

You are also a child of God tonight. God is your Father, and no change of circumstances can rob you of that. Even if you are reduced to poverty, stripped of everything, you can still say, “He is my Father. In my Father’s house are many mansions, so I will not be troubled.”

You have another blessing that cannot be taken away—the love of Jesus Christ. The One who is both God and man loves you with the fullness of His divine and human nature, and nothing can change that. Though the fig tree does not bud, and the fields are empty of flocks, it doesn’t matter to the one who can sing, “My Beloved is mine, and I am His!” The best part of our inheritance, our greatest treasure, cannot be lost. Whatever trials come, let us be courageous and show that we are not so immature as to be thrown off course by the events of this fleeting life. Our true home is Immanuel’s land, our true hope is above the skies. Like the calm surface of the summer sea, we can watch the wreck of all that is earthly and still rejoice in the God of our salvation!