Tearing Down and Building Up
Scripture Reading — Ephesians 2:13-22
You are … God’s household, built on the foundation … with … Jesus himself as the … cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:19-20
The tension is thick during a city council meeting when council members discuss issues of tearing down and building up. Which buildings should be preserved, and which ones swept away? Historic preservation and future plans for growth seem to conflict. Strong opinions and deep loyalties surface during the debate.
Paul’s words to the believers at Ephesus remind us that God is also involved in demolition and construction. God was in the process of “closing down” the temple that stood in Jerusalem. In fact, in A.D. 70, the Roman siege of Jerusalem ended in the physical demolition of the temple. With it the structure of old loyalties and convictions would fall.
But a new temple is under construction. This temple is the church, and it includes all believers in Christ as living building blocks. This building is magnificent and secure. The glorious structure that comes together fits the intentions of the Lord. Each believer, each building block, complements all the others, and all belong together as they connect to Christ, the cornerstone.
Our lives are often marked by personal building projects. But as wonderful as our own initiatives can be, we know that God’s building replaces the structures made with our own hands. The products of our earthly lives will one day be replaced by all things made new.
Lord Jesus, you are our cornerstone, and you have given us the foundation of the apostles. Reassure us today that you will continue the good work you have begun in us. Amen.
About the author — Harvey Brink
Rev. Harvey Brink has retired from active ministry in the Christian Reformed Church, having served congregations in Michigan, California, Iowa, New Jersey, Illinois, and
Washington. He and his wife Maxine live near their children and grandchildren in western Washington.
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