"The Temple" by: Francine Lewis

From the beginning of creation, humanity was designed to dwell in the temple of God. “Know ye not that yes are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16) “From eternal ages it was God's purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the indwelling of the Creator.” (DA 161.1) It is of an urgent matter that the Lord our God wants to commune with us. The Loving Creator wants to dwell among and within us to keep our temple pure, and invite the Father and His love in. 

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the Living God. As God hath said I will dwell in them, and they shall be my people,” (2 Corinthians 6:16)

Let us take a step back in time to the beginning of creation when God formed man, Adam in His image. This image in Adam was to represent God in His fullness - dwelling inwardly. “And God said Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in his own image. In the image of God created he him, male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26 and 1:27) “When Adam came from the Creator's hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. “God created man in his own image” (Genesis 1:27), and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image—the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator.” (RC 105.4) Christ in us, and us in Him connects us as one in the Father. Even as Christ and The Father are One:

(John 17:21-23):

“21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but The Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) “I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14)

Let us be impressed with "the thought that the body is a temple in which God desires to dwell. That it must be kept pure, the abiding place of high and noble thoughts." (Education, 200, 201) “How precious also are thy thought unto me, o God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” Psalm 139:17-18) Let us keep in mind the great gift, a gift so precious and so pure that our Father has given us to form a temple as we await the glorious Day of our Lord Jesus. Our Father gives us a chance, here on earth to be with him; a glimpse of heaven. “For ye are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”(1 Corinthians 6:20) “All men have been bought with this infinite price by pouring the whole treasury of heaven into this world by giving us In Christ all heaven.” (COL 326.1) By the plan of redemption, however, a way has been opened whereby the inhabitants of the earth may still have connection with heaven. God has communicated with men by His Spirit, and divine light has been imparted to the world by revelations to His chosen servants... (GC, v) and by His Spirit we are one. By His Spirit we are loved by Jesus who is the Author and finisher of our faith.

“He who becomes a partaker of the divine nature will be in harmony with God’s great standard of righteousness, His Holy Law. This is the rule by which God measures the actions of men. This will be the test of character.” (COL 314.2) “That ye would walk worthy of God who had called you unto his kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:12) Through the grace of Christ a marvelous transformation will take place in each and in every life. “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth. The word of God.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

God has called His people to glory and this will be manifest in the lives of all who are truly connected to Him. It is by this alone that makes one like God in character through the knowledge of God and of His son Jesus Christ. “For he received from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory. This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” (2 Peter 1:17)