reminder: it is all passing away

Mt 24:1-14
Jesus left the Temple and was going away, when His disciples came to point out to Him the buildings of the Temple. But He answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly I say to you, there will not be left here on stone upon another that will not be thrown down..."

Prophets declare God's word. "When we encounter God it is judgment on our lives. Always." These words from a book (Beginning to Pray, Bloom) I recently started has given me a different angle on every word I read in Scripture. Judgement means salvation or condemnation, life or death, redemption or loss.  Jesus' prophetic word is that God is coming to the Temple in condemnation because when God (in Jesus) came tot he Temple with salvation He was rejected.

Our response is a corporate response, too. The world and our own cities are in relationship with judgment each day as God (emmanuel) comes among us. The rural folks marvel at the big city and the huge buildings. Jesus reminds them that it is all passing away. God's Temple will be destroyed and to this day it is gone. The amazing structures of our own day, far surpassing the Temple in size and scope, will also pass away. It is all temporary. Except God, and us. And our encounter with God is judgement: life or death, salvation or destruction...

Prayer
Keep my eyes from what is false, by your word give me light. Help me to focus on what matters most, Eternal Lord, and make me your holy dwelling and a temple of your presence that will not pass away. Thank you. Glory to you. Forgive and Heal us. amen.