Ezekiel 40-41
Ezekiel goes through great pains to reveal the details God
gave him as he measured the temple revealed to him in his vision. The temple
had been destroyed when the Israelites were sent into exile, but God showed
Ezekiel that a new temple would be built. God instructed Ezekiel to make sure
the temple met God’s blueprint. He was reminded of the offerings to be made for
the cleansing of the people. He gave assignments to the priests. This section
is reminiscent of the instructions God gave Moses on Mount Sinai. But it is a
message of hope. God is showing Ezekiel a vision of restoration while they are
stuck in exile with no hope of getting out. God in effect is saying that He is
still in charge and that though things look like they cannot get any worse;
they can look up and know the day of restoration is getting closer every day.
People get frustrated. We hear it every day. The world seems
to be spinning out of control. People seem to be getting more self centered. It
seems like more and more people turn their backs on God each day. If you watch
the news on television, it is easy to lose any sense of hope. But we also have
a vision to give us hope in the midst of hopelessness.
"We believe that Jesus died and rose again
and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep
in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still
alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede
those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,
with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call
of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still
alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore
encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, NIV)
No matter how bad things may seem we have a hope. Jesus
promised He would return and He would usher in His kingdom and we will be with
the Lord forever. Even death cannot stop God’s plan. He will raise the dead and
we will be joined together. We will receive heavenly bodies that will be like
Jesus’ glorified body. There is hope, so encourage each other with these words.
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