‘And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and their God (Revelation 21:3).”’
Building a Society
When I was a teacher I moved to a new job in a new location for ‘building’ a new school – not building with bricks and mortar, but with young people to help mould them for citizenship in the UK. We teachers were primed with enthusiasm, and we were committed to the comprehensive system which embodied the concept of cooperation, rather than competition. This was a left-wing, socialist agenda. We all signed up to what we thought was an ideal foundation for the benefit of society. There would be no more segregation by class with elite fee-paying schools where the rich, the influential and those in positions of power would have the advantage. Their houses would fall, but at the same time, their children would rub shoulders with the disenfranchised, the weak and the feeble. Public schools and grammar schools would be disbanded, and a new egalitarian era would begin, heralding a meritocracy that would flourish. No one would be short of food or clothing, and all would be cared for by the State.
A Broken Society
History saw differently. The pendulum has swung even more in favour of the rich, the elite, the haves, and those in positions of power. The rich are getting richer and the divide in society widens. Worse still, the UK has swung away from Christian principles and worship of the One True God (Exodus 20:1-4). There is a dearth of Christian belief. False religions and false gods are more attractive to those who seek some sort of spiritual input and expression to their lives. Multicultural we may be, but on the whole we are a secular society that has lost its way.
We lack a common desire for working together for building a democratic society based on the noble principles of truth, compassion, love and justice. More still, we have no appetite for meeting God’s rules (Exodus 20:1-17). He will look down from heaven with righteous judgment and find us guilty (v 5). He will withdraw His favour and leave our land to founder. We should be tearing our garments (Joshua 7:6), throwing ashes over our heads, pulling out our hair (Ezra 9:3) and kneeling down before Him, whilst begging for mercy. No, this is not a laughing matter! It is deadly serious. We are in a bad way; we need to repent and live worthy lives.
Demise of the Land of Hope and Glory
The Land of Hope and Glory has fallen. No longer is there hope. No longer is there a vision. Our house has collapsed. Brexit, i.e., leaving the European Union, could be a new beginning, a new togetherness, but I fear divisions will become even more polarised. Instead of pulling together for bringing God the glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), materialistic selfishness will prevail – even a fight for survival for strugglers dependent upon food banks and charity shops. This is a pessimistic, and gloomy outlook, but if God so determines the future, who are we to question Him? This is our just dessert. We deserve His wrath (Romans 1:18) for abandoning Him; for ignoring Him. Family life as He designed it (Genesis 2:24) has been trashed. Young people seldom marry today; they just live together, often until difficulties arise, then they part, and their children are bewildered. To compound the issue, they strike up new relationships and cohabit yet again and sometimes again, for procreating more illegitimate offspring (Deuteronomy 23:2).
God’s True House
The visible, but false church of God cannot be called His House or Tabernacle; for it is a domain of demons who deceive themselves and play charades as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). The world inhabits it. On the other hand the True Church of Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) is strong in His *strength (1 John 2:14). He builds and adds to it daily. Bible-believing Christians meet in homes, schools and any convenient places. They worship together, share together and carry out the Lord’s command to make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things commanded by Jesus (Matthew 28:19, 20).
These disciples of Jesus, will dwell in God’s ultimate House forever – the Tabernacle in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:3).
*The Organic Church
The Biblical Way 