November 9: A WHOLE LOT OF MEASURING GOING ON
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. Revelation 11:1
What does it mean to measure? In the original Greek, it means to judge by some sort of standard. Here we are being called to “judge” God. God is being judged all the time by the standards of fallen humans. He is perpetually on trial. Of course, the whole world is telling Satan’s side of the story. God wants us to hear His side of the story. The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8). We are being called to measure the temple of God. John records that the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple (v.19). The ark of His covenant points us to the Ten Commandments, which are a transcript of His character of love. The first four are about loving God and the last six are about loving people. This is the only true standard. God is constantly being judged by those who do not trust Him or believe what He says. Paul asks: For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.” (Romans 3:3-4)
What does it mean to measure the altar? What does the altar symbolize? The sacrifice of Christ! This is His side of the story. This love is too great for us to fully take in, yet we are being called to measure it. Paul prayed for his brothers and sisters in the Lord …that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19). The width of God’s love is to all people. He doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). The length of His love stretches through all generations till the end of time. The depth of His love is seen in the fact that He became a man. He came all the way down to where we are. And He will be a man throughout all eternity! The height of His love brings His people to sit with Him on His throne (Revelation 3:21). His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9), yet He continually ministers to lift us up from the darkness of sin and sadness. His love is beyond understanding, and that’s why we are called to measure it, to examine it. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Also, those who worship there are to be measured. For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17) The worshipers are those who profess to be followers of God. We are judged by how we respond to the love of God. God pours out His love upon us, we accept that love, and then we come into judgement. How so? The most practical way is how others see us: our witness, our light, our testimony. And they determine from what they see if Christianity is something that they are attracted to, or something they will reject. It is based upon how we reveal the Spirit of Christ. What a challenge that is! We need His Spirit every single day.
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3