{"id":865,"date":"2018-04-02T01:24:09","date_gmt":"2018-04-02T01:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/keithgiles\/?p=865"},"modified":"2018-04-01T22:18:29","modified_gmt":"2018-04-01T22:18:29","slug":"this-present-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/keithgiles\/2018\/04\/this-present-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"This Present Reality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

T. Austin Sparks says something in the very beginning of his book \u201cThe School of Christ\u201d which provided a very clear image for me of what I think is \u201coff\u201d about so much of Christianity today.<\/p>\n

He points out that the prophetic image of a new temple as described to Ezekiel is already fulfilled in Christ, and therefore in His Body [which is the church].<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In other words, there is nothing \u2013 absolutely nothing<\/em> \u2013 that would be any different in any way in this present reality if someone were to actually start stacking large stone blocks on top of each other to construct a physical temple in Jerusalem this afternoon, then what we already experience right now because of Christ.<\/p>\n

If only we could grasp this truth.<\/em><\/p>\n

The image of this temple in Jerusalem as described by Ezekiel, and even later by John in his Revelation,\u00a0<\/em>is a metaphor for the reality that was to come \u2013 and has now already come \u2013 through Jesus our Messiah.<\/p>\n

The dwelling place of God is now among men, as we read in Revelation 21:3.<\/p>\n

The rivers of living water that flow from the center of the new city, or the new temple, are the same living waters that Jesus said would flow out of us \u2013 His people \u2013 He Body \u2013 His Temple \u2013 in the Gospel of John:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf anyone thirsts<\/wbr>, let him come to me and drink.\u00a0Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, \u2018Out of\u00a0his heart will flow rivers of living water.\u2019\u201d (John 7:37-38)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.\u00a0Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water\u00a0welling up to eternal life.\u201d (John 4:14)<\/em><\/p>\n

So, we all claim to know this. We all say we understand that these realities are true already, right now. And yet we also, at the same time, continue to wait for God to \u201cfulfill\u201d these prophecies literally. As if to fulfill them \u201cliterally\u201d would accomplish something new, or different from what we are capable of experiencing today.<\/p>\n

I suspect this is really the problem: We are not experiencing these realities for ourselves and so we act as if the current spiritual fulfillment is the consolation prize, but when God \u201creally does it<\/em>\u201d [in the natural] then it will really \u201ccome true.\u201d<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not the way it works, I\u2019m afraid.<\/p>\n

The reality is Christ. The literal things \u2013 the temple, the priesthood, the daily sacrifice \u2013 those things were the shadow of what was to come, and now that the reality is here [Christ], those shadows have vanished and are already fading away.
\n[See Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1]\n<\/p>

There will never be any greater reality than Christ. For us, the fulfillment of a new creation has already come to pass. The old things have passed away, behold, the new has come! [See 2 Cor. 5:17]\n<\/p>

The New Covenant proclaimed by Jesus in the upper room has now been inaugurated and fulfilled nearly 2,000 years ago. We need to wake up and realize that it\u2019s true. We are now living in the New Heavens and the New Earth that God promised us so long ago.<\/p>\n

The Divine has come to touch the earth. The seed was planted. The fruit has begun to ripen. Nothing will ever be the same again.<\/p>\n

We are the New Jerusalem. We are the End Times Temple. We are the Body of Jesus in the world today. We are the stewards of His living water that now flows from within, and we are calling out, along with the Holy Spirit, to those outside the gates who are thirsty: \u201cCome and drink freely from the waters of life!\u201d<\/p>\n

Let Christ arise and awaken from within. He is alive! He is reigning from His throne! His Kingdom has come!<\/p>\n

Halleluiah! Long live the King!<\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

Join me at one of these upcoming events:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Organic Church Conference<\/strong>\u00a0with Neil Cole, Ross Rohde, Dan Notti and Keith Giles on Saturday, May 12 in Long Beach, CA.\u00a0Register here><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Nonviolent Love of Christ: How Loving Our Enemies Saves The World<\/strong>, with Joshua Lawson and Keith Giles on Saturday, June 16 in Portsmouth Ohio.\u00a0Register here><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

***
\nKeith Giles is the author of several books, including\u00a0\u201cJesus Untangled: Crucifying Our Politics To Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb\u201d<\/a>. He is also the co-host of the\u00a0Heretic Happy Hour Podcast<\/a>\u00a0on iTunes and Podbean. He and his wife live in Orange, CA with their two sons.<\/em><\/p>\n

Unlock exclusive content including blog articles, short stories, music, podcasts, videos and more on my\u00a0Patreon page.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

T. Austin Sparks says something in the very beginning of his book \u201cThe School of Christ\u201d which provided a very clear image for me of what I think is \u201coff\u201d about so much of Christianity today. 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