The world is littered with holy places that are lifeless. The spires reach upward to the heavens. The stained glass is breathtaking. The columns and arches are magnificent. The Gothic ceilings are breathtaking. Yet one comes away impressed with a building and not with God.
Despite all that Israel’s wealthiest king invested into the construction of the temple, it would have been meaningless had it not been that God chose to place His tangible presence in the Holy Place.
The reality is that we cannot manipulate or control God’s presence in our life or ministry. We can only prepare a place. Once the temple is built and the Holy Place consecrated, sovereign God chooses where He will manifest Himself.
Just as the cloud filled the temple, so we ought never to be satisfied apart from a complete filling of our own lives by the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit’s filling, we are but white washed tombs. With His filling, we have the awesome power of God working in and through us.