In the Old Testament we read God’s instructions for the building of the Tabernacle. There is to be an Outer Court, an Inner Court, and the Holy of Holies. The  people were to place the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. On top of the Ark there was a mercy seat. Then Exodus 25:22 says. “And there I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.”

So we find the true and living God telling Moses He will speak and meet with him in this most holy place…the Holy of Holies. God’s Presence is the reason this is the most holy place.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we hear the apostle Paul say, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.”

How carelessly and contemptuously we treat these bodies we dwell in.  How callous we are to the fact that the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

In the Old Testament, when a high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, it was a fearful thing. If the priest had sin or was defiled in any way, he was struck down by God. Our God is holy and He requires us to be holy.

Today however, we behave as if we aren’t holy at all.

We overeat.

We over exercise.

We overspend.

We go places we should not go.

We speak words we should not speak.

We harm others in thought and deed.

We withhold good when it is in our power to do good.

We curse and do not bless others.

And this is just a small sample. Add your own sin or shortcoming.

In verse 19 of chapter 20 the word “temple” is the Greek word “naos” Naos defined as, “dwelling of a god. Inner part of a temple. Holy of Holies.” 

Our body is a “naos”? A Holy of Holies where the living God dwells? Oh my…So if our body is a “naos”…a holy of holies where God Himself dwells within us, why in the world would we defile the place the living God resides? Why would we think we could?

I think I might blame it on “ignorance”. I know we hear these scriptures all the time but I don’t think we stop and consider their deep truth. We don’t “connect the dots”. This isn’t a get out of jail free card. No. It is a call to consider the seriousness of how we live. Where we go. Who we choose as intimate friends. What we allow ourselves to think about. In other words to choose living a holy life…We are walking, talking tabernacles of the most Holy High God. It’s high time we remember who we are and whose we are.