"A House... A Home"

 

     There's an old saying, "It takes a man to build a house, but only a woman can make a home" (and yes, I know there are women housebuilders, and that a man can make a ho... well, I'm not so sure about that!).

 

    In the formation of His house, His spiritual house the church, the Lord Jesus Christ both builds and makes.  That is, He first establishes the primary relationship with us by leading us to the new birth based upon His death, resurrection and ascension into the Heavenlies. 

 

    "Ye.. are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:19; 20-21).

 

    Our Savior, however, is not content with merely building a house, albeit even a "fitly framed... holy temple in the Lord."  He purposes rather to embellish His project by making it a more beautiful and comfortable dwelling than our minds can imagine.  Thus, every member of the body of Christ is different and possessed of gifts that will one day be fully revealed to display the glory of Christ in ways that no other part of the temple can provide.  "Now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him" (I Corinthians 12:18). 

 

    In our present existence, we cannot fully see "the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).  Nevertheless, we "shine as lights in the world," revealing already the wisdom and artistry of the Builder and Maker in ways that show how committed He is to a temple not only functional, but sublimely beautiful (Philippians 2:15).  I often ponder how even we Christians fail to realize what the world would be (or would have been) without us.  Think of the orphanages that would have never been built, the hospitals never established, the hungry never fed, the music and poetry never written or performed, the art never painted or sculpted, the sermons never preached, the books never written, and most importantly, the trillions of unknown and unseen acts of self sacrificial love motivated and empowered by the Spirit of Christ as He works to make His house a home. 

 

    The church, the spiritual body of Christ, is a beautiful thing.  A master Builder laid our foundation, built our walls, and formed our roof.  But now, an Artist of infinite creativity is in the house to make it a home, His home.  And, as with all beautiful dwellingplaces, our Lord's embellishments will continue forever because His infinite beauty will require new touches and nuances, even as old perfections eternally glimmer and gleam.  We do well to realize this about our brothers and sisters, and about ourselves.  Indeed, let us expect to see "the beauty of the Lord our God upon us," and be continually amazed by the house being made into a home.

 

"He hath made everything beautiful in His time."

(Ecclesiastes 3:11)