His Sanctuary

When you look in the mirror do you see what God made you to be, or rather all the imperfections this world has informed us that we have?


For far too long when I looked in the mirror I saw only the things about me that I disliked, that I despised.  I did not see the image of God I was created in, but rather I saw an overweight individual without enough drive, determination, or dedication to change what was hindering me most, to knock down what was the first of many walls Satan had attempted to erect between me and my loving Savior.  In junior high the devil had tricked me into thinking I was worthless, that nothing I did could make it any better so I might as well enjoy that burger, that buffet, and many other earthly pleasures because I did not deserve anything else.


Over the past years God had slowly started to reveal Himself to me, to deconstruct those lies, and help me to realize who I was created to be.  We are made in His image! He has given us these earthly bodies to be treated with respect, as the temples of the Holy Spirit, a physical dwelling place for the Savior of our souls. He has purchased us with the blood of Christ, and afforded us these bodies in order for us to live out these earthly lives, bringing praise and honor to the Most High God.  It was after God had started to show me these truths that I could look in the mirror and not see what I hated, but rather see a sanctuary for the Holy Spirt; a place of worship and admiration for the One who gave it all for me.


I began to treat myself with more respect knowing that whatever I did to me, I was also doing to the dwelling place of the Lord, to the gift God that had granted to me for His plans in my life.  Through the love of Christ my vision was cleared, my determination and will rejuvenated by the Holy Spirit, and the sanctuary which God had intended my body to be, His sanctuary, had begun to undergo its restoration process.  Through Him I was set free, and through Him I continue to strive to be a reflection of Jesus Christ; spreading His love to all who need to hear it, and slowly dismantling the lies that Satan has built up in our lives.


Verse:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
~1 Corinthians 6:19-20


Strive and long to be a reflection of Jesus, to make your bodies a temple worthy of being the dwelling place of our Lord.  He has the power, love, and forgiveness to set us free, to make us whole; we must embrace this truth, and work towards becoming who He has created us to be.  Our bodies are His temple; we are His sanctuary.  It is time we begin to reflect these truths.