Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it. ~1 Chronicles 28:10
W hen you visit Washington, D.C., it doesn’t take long before you realize that nearly everywhere you look you see a monument. Huge structures like the memorials to Washington and Lincoln preside over less ominous but incredibly emotional sites like the black granite of the Vietnam Memorial. Statues in every square and countless plaques honor courageous men and women. We see these places, and we are compelled to remember.
Believe it or not, your town also has many structures built for the purpose of helping us remember. They are memorials to challenge us not to forget God’s tireless faithfulness and seamless grace. They come in a multiplicity of shapes and sizes. They are built with many kinds of materials. Some are built on shoestring budgets, and some are built at a tremendous cost.
These memorials are church buildings.
Perhaps you haven’t thought of these structures that dot the landscape where you live as memorials, but this is exactly what they are. Of course, the Bible makes clear that “the church” is not a building but an assembly of believers. Yet the buildings where these believers meet are a powerful symbol—brick and mortar monuments to honor a sovereign, almighty, and faithful God.
For decades, Israel’s house of worship was portable. The collapsible tabernacle was made of canvas and wood so it could be moved from place to place as the Israelites wandered around the wilderness. In our passage today, David announced to the people that his son, Solomon, was going to build the Israelites a permanent temple—an eternal memorial to God’s faithfulness. Even though God didn’t choose David to be this building’s contractor, I’m sure he was grateful that God had chosen his son to do the work.
Do you have a church—a place that, for you and your family, is a visible reminder of God’s faithfulness? If not, please take your family to one this coming weekend. God has called you—and your family—to honor this place as a living memorial to Him. What God requires of you is loyal worship, participation with your time and treasure, and encouragement of those who are in leadership. Then, when it’s time for you to move on to that heavenly tabernacle, your children will pick up where you left off—committing themselves to worship, participation, and encouragement.
The building where you go to visit with your Savior and His people is a sacred place. Please remember this.