Author Darlene J. Conard

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:” 1 Corinthians 2:7 KJV

The Pharisees had no clue what Jesus meant when He said, … “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19-20 KJV)In no time they began to fill in the blanks with a natural meaning. “It took forty and six years to build this temple and You say,  You’ll build it back in three” he wasn’t talking about stones and concrete. He was referring to His death, burial, and resurrection.

This morning a reel of images circulated in my thoughts. Sometimes I feel as though the blow of an invisible hammer has come down on me crumbling me into a pile of rubble. I wouldn’t say I like those encounters. But I’ve had to accept that those are necessary for our remaking.

Nehemiah didn’t rebuild using  Israel’s damaged material. Everything became new. Rebuilding had to be done right with diligence, watchfulness, and determination. What happens if new material is placed on the rotten and beaten foundation? The work is in vain because it will not hold and affect the new.

You see, when it feels like an invisible hammer is coming down God is resurrecting something new within us. That’s what the purpose of His death, burial, and resurrection is about. A new beginning.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:11-16 KJV

He is doing something new in all our lives!  There is a hidden glory within all of us that is dormant.

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