SCRIPTURE:
15 When the man had finished measuring the inside of the Temple area, he led me out through the east gateway to measure the entire perimeter. 16 He measured the east side with his measuring rod, and it was 875 feet long. 17 Then he measured the north side, and it was also 875 feet. 18 The south side was also 875 feet, 19 and the west side was also 875 feet. 20 So the area was 875 feet on each side with a wall all around it to separate what was holy from what was common.
Ezekiel 42:15-20
OBSERVATION:
When you go to a buffet, how do you pile the food onto your plate? Do you not care if the flavors mix, or do you take caution to ensure that each dish remains separated? For me, I try my best to keep every entree separate to preserve the integrity and flavor of each dish––for when the flavors start to mix, you begin to create a new dish that was unintended by the master chef. And more often than not, that new dish does not taste anywhere near as good as the original.
In Ezekiel 42, God gives Ezekiel the vision of a glorious temple. He gives Ezekiel specific dimensions and specifications as to how this temple should be built. After God describes the temple to Ezekiel, He begins to talk about the temple gates. Fashioned in the shape of an 875-foot long square, God tells Ezekiel the purpose of these temple walls: “o separate what was holy from what was common” (Ezekiel 42:20b NLT).
The walls existed to separate that which was holy from that which was common. The two were never meant to mix; the sacred was meant to be preserved, honored, and protected.
APPLICATION:
When it comes to your life, are you separating that which is holy from that which is common, or are you mixing everything, unable to tell the difference between sacred and secular?
Don’t get me wrong––God calls us to live fully-integrated lives. We are not called to live a Sunday-only faith. Our faith in Christ is meant to permeate and extend into every aspect of our lives.
What I am saying is that sometimes, whether intentional or not, we regard holiness as common. We treat church as a checklist item, expected to be entertained rather than engaged in worship. We treat prayer as a common conversation with God, without revering Him as King of Kings or Lord of Lords. We trade our holiness for commonness so that we can be accepted by the world rather than be approved by God.
Just like the temple walls separated that which was holy from that which was common, we too are called to preserve holiness by creating boundaries in our lives.
As it is written in 1 Peter 2:9 NIV, “9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” You are not meant to be the same as the world; you are called to be different. You should feel the tension of that differentness in your life. If you aren’t perhaps you’ve been mixing the sacred and the secular in your life like a haphazardly constructed buffet plate. Don’t devalue holiness. Don’t create a new dish that was never meant to be consumed.
Honor God by preserving that which is holy. For when you do, the holiness that you experience will be so much better––for you will taste and see it just as the Master Creator intended.
PRAYER:
God,
Thank You for the privilege of getting to experience Your holiness here on Earth. I repent for the times I have haphazardly mixed the sacred and the secular. Forgive me and help me to create healthy boundaries so that I can experience holiness perfectly, as You intended. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
