Does your life point to the Point?

“Edify” is a word that is not in many vocabularies. I know it’s not in mine. However, just because it’s not a word we typically use doesn’t mean it’s an action we shouldn’t frequently do.

“Edify,” in a Biblical stance, has its roots in the Greek word oikodomeo, which means “to build a house” (ie House of God) — a temple.

If you’ll recall, we spoke about temples a few weeks ago, namely the fact that you and I are temples.

Focusing first on edifying our inner temple, Paul delivers sound wisdom in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24. “I have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything, but not everything is constructive.”

Not everything is constructive.

Not everything edifies.

Some things tear down, destroy, or worse: enslave.

Because as it turns out, freedom to act as one pleases is not really freedom at all.

True freedom requires self-restraint and moral purpose. It’s more than simply the ability to gratify every impulse. As a matter of fact, seeking self-gratification in such a manner is closer to bondage than one would think, often enslaving one to their own desires and ultimately, sin (Romans 6).

A slave of sin and desire? If that sounds a lot like death to you, it’s because it is. Remember, Romans 8:6 tells us that the mind governed by the flesh is death, while the mind governed by the Spirit is life.

Don’t feel bad if you sometimes feel like you’re on the losing end of Flesh v. Spirit. First, I want to assure you that you’re not. Second, I want to point out that our good, good Father already accounted for those struggles. Jesus faced temptation so He could walk us through it. So, in death, He could bring it down. So in life, He could bring victory over all sin, all evil, and all temptation.

We will battle sin, face evil, and struggle through temptation. But 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises us that not only will we not be tempted by anything we cannot bear, but that when we are tempted, God will provide our way out.

He’s a good, good Father. And that very goodness from Him breeds obedience in the believer, obedience stemmed from a grateful heart. That’s when edification can begin.

Once our temples are in order, no tables flipped, we can take a look outside at the Big-C Church.

See, edify has a modern definition, too. To edify is defined as “to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge.”

Brothers and sisters, we are temples. We are places where people go to meet God. We are not our own, for we were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Now, impulse purchases aside, how many of you have bought something you have absolutely zero intention to use?

You were not an impulse purchase.

You were made with a purpose, bought with careful intention.

You were created, custom-made, set in the world for a short while, then purchased in blood by the very hands that crafted you.

Before you knew His name, He chose you. That’s one of the most beautiful thoughts to me. To think that lil’ ol’ me, sometimes adrift in my own shortcomings and fears of failure, was chosen. Chosen by the King.

When speaking of the disciples, G. Macdonald stated that “Jesus didn’t take volunteers. He put His finger on each one because He saw potential in them.”

And He sees potential in us.

Potential to edify His Church. To build up other believers.

“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:19).

We are not the point. We are here to the point to the Point. But we can’t build a strong Church from a dirty, broken temple.

We are to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-13) so we can protect our temples from the enemy’s tactics, from sin and darkness. Then we are to wear that armor out into the world loving people (Romans 12:10), building them up (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and encouraging them (Hebrews 10:24-25).

We are to first build up our temples so our brethren don’t look to us and stumble (1 Corinthians 10:31-33).

We are to make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification (Romans 14:19). That is, builders building builders. Then, with a strong Church, a united Church, an edified Church, the Bride of Christ will stand strong and ready when her Bridegroom arrives to claim her.