The Daily Word of Righteousness

Filled With the Fullness, #4

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, (Colossians 2:9—NIV)

I often have wondered how Jesus Christ in a physical body of average size, apparently, could contain the fullness of God. Maybe His body was small but His invisible personality so great He could contain the fullness of God.

Perhaps this also is true of us; for if we are to contain the fullness of God we must be bigger than we think we are. Maybe God had to put us in an animal body to humble and test us before trusting us with something greater. Do you suppose?

Remember, the purpose of filling us with His fullness is not that we will become so puffed up we explode. It is that we may serve as a tree of life to the nations God loves and intends to give to Jesus Christ and us as our inheritance.

Are you having a problem with the idea of being filled with the fullness of God?

Consider the next verse and quit staggering at the promises of God!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20,21—NIV)

"Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."

I am going to tell you what I am asking and imagining, and then you can do as you like.

I am asking and imagining myself being in the image of the Lord as pictured in the first chapter of the Book of Ezekiel. Furthermore, I am asking and imagining that my inward nature will be created according to the design of the temple described by Ezekiel.

That is as far as I have been able to get at the present time.

I can imagine this and ask for this. Why not? We have been predestined to be in the image of the Lord, and the first chapter of Ezekiel tells us of the image of the Lord. Right? Anybody staggering around here?

Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (Ezekiel 1:28—NIV)

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29—NIV)

Now, as to Ezekiel's Temple:

This is the law of the temple: All the surrounding area on top of the mountain will be most holy. Such is the law of the temple. (Ezekiel 43:12—NIV)

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:21—NIV)

Would we be that far off in suggesting that Ezekiel's Temple is referring to the Body of Christ, and that the various guardrooms, stone altars, and so forth are symbolizing the creative work God does as He through His Spirit strengthens our inward nature?

Again:

The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on will be: "THE LORD IS THERE." (Ezekiel 48:35—NIV)

To be continued.