The Heavenly building code

[episkopos]

Greetings to all. This is an important subject that I'd like to discuss with everyone and share my gleanings so far!

In the increasingly distant past I visited Mexico in the not so touristy places. The cities there are structured backwards from our own. The rich live near the town center and the poor live in outlying "suburbs" they call colonias.

Now the people are very poor there and the government grants free land in a colonia on the condition that the person can build himself a house in 5 years. Now this was 24 years ago so things may have changed. But it suits our purpose to compare this with heavenly things.

The building material is tinder block. I don't know if there is a building code per se or if one MUST build with these blocks. In the poor villages in the mountains people use straw and occasionally tinder block.

[episkopos]

Which brings us to the New Jerusalem and It's building codes.

About 32 years ago I had a vision while sitting on the steps in front of an RC establishment having ducked out of the service because I no longer held to the transubstantiation doctrine.

I was looking down the street when suddenly I saw the Lord standing on a balcony looking at me (I was also on the balcony) then turning and pointing down the street which had become a different street like a street in the New Jerusalem...very bright and shiny. There was a gold-like quality to the street and the buildings (all the same material) and everything shone with a light that contained God's glory. The material reflected that glory so that the whole place shone. As I was taking this in I felt Jesus' presence which was full of love and gentleness...to the extent that I wanted to look back at Jesus. When I did so I was right back on the steps of the RC building.

i have meditated on this vision many times...concluding (after many rabbit trails of suppositions) that the materials we must build with must reflect His glory.

[episkopos]

Now on to the actual heavenly building codes...

1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

[episkopos]

So we see 2 different standards of materials that we can build with...

Gold, silver and precious stones

Wood, hay and stubble

This is corroborated in 2 Tim 2...

2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

[episkopos]

When we are regenerated in Christ and are born of the Spirit we have an empty lot, so to speak, in the New Jerusalem. We are given time to build on the foundation of the city (which is Christ Jesus Himself). But we can only remain in the city if we build to the city's building code.

So we have 2 criterias

We are given a certain amount of time (our lifetime?)
And we must build with a material that reflects Christ.

We have a choice on how we use our time. We have a choice on what materials we are building with. So we will be judged by our choices with their subsequent actions.

We have a further reference to building material from Jesus Himself..

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.


There's that gold again. So we see that the Laodiceans were NOT building with the proper materials. They were building alright but with things that do not stand up under the testing of God. And what does Jesus do with these? Does He allow a slum to mar the reflective nature of the city? No, He rejects them (spewing them from His mouth). So we see that unless we build with the proper materials we will not keep our lot in the New Jerusalem.

[episkopos]

Which brings us to the other criteria...time. We are each given a measure of time to build on the foundation that has been laid for us. Does the bible speak in this regard?

Luk 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
Luk 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
Luk 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
Luk 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.


Here it would seem that there is less than a lifetime to at least begin the process of building. We don't know how much time we have...so it is important to live so as not to waste time in building. Our futures depend on it.

[episkopos]

Does anyone have examples of building with gold, silver...what does this mean?

Does anyone have examples of building with straw and earth...what does this mean?

[shepherdsword]

Does anyone have examples of building with gold, silver...what does this mean?

Does anyone have examples of building with straw and earth...what does this mean?

The materials the Lord uses for the building of His Temple is none other than the living stones that comprise his body.
We are told what the temple is:

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

God has been looking for a dwelling place from time beginning. david desired to build him a house and Solomon did so. Here is the Lord's response:

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

The Jews fell into the error that may Pastors make today. They assumed that the "house of God" was some man made edifice. They thought that because the temple was in Jerusalem God would never let the city fall:

Jer 7:4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.:5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;:6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt::7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.:8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.:9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; :10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

It is error to think that our church building is the place where God dwells. He dwells within people. He desires a broken holy people. He doesn't want a people who come to him with their lips but have a distant heart. Such one say "behold,we are delivered to do all of these abominations" Such is the 'wood,hay and stubble"

We are so similar today with our message of "grace" and all the while,we don't know what grace is. When a holy people truly take hold of God's grace it will empower them to walk holy. They will be bound together in love and create the environment needed for the habitation of the Spirit . Such is the gold,silver and precious stones.


Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

I can't help but imagine the glory that will be revealed when this "temple of living stones' is completed.When Solomon's temple was finished the priests were not even able to stand under the glory that God revealed then. Such was only a shadow and type. When this final temple is completed God will reveal His glory in all of it's fullness. The whole earth will be full of it!

Num 14:20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word.:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

This vow shall be fulfilled at the completion of the true temple of God,the "temple of living stones"

[Dani H]

Unless the Lord builds a house, they labor in vain who build it.

I think it's all about priorities. When God is our treasure, then people will be too. If He is more valuable to us than any gold, silver or valuable earthly things combined, we will focus on His Kingdom and we will join Him in building it. The New Jerusalem are people. Invest in God and in people, and we'll never go wrong.

That means building relationships, supporting other people's relationship with God, and doing what we can to be at peace with others and help them focus on what matters.

It's not rocket science, really.

[episkopos]

OK but we are the ones doing the building. We usually can't tell what the materials really are because we cannot ourselves test them in fire. To us all the materials look the same...but what are the indicators of something that will last eternally as opposed to that which burns up on testing?

We are presently in the days of the Laodiceans where everybody thinks they are headed for glory. Jesus issues a stern warning. Who can discern exactly what He is talking about in reference to our own responsibility to choose the right things to build with?

[Neanias]

There is a difference between what God is building, of which those who are his are the living stones, and what we will be judged by. What makes us fit to be stones in what God is building? What makes it that we will NOT be of those whom Jesus spits out of his mouth?

One hint is in Jesus' words right before the warning, 'I counsel thee to buy from me gold tested by fire'.

That's clearly something WE do. I think that's what episkopos is trying to get to.

[Jake]

We're responsible for our righteousness, faithfulness and obedience. The Laodiceans definitely did not build with these.

Holiness, too.

[Caleb]

Does anyone have examples of building with gold, silver...what does this mean?

Does anyone have examples of building with straw and earth...what does this mean?

The way I see it is:

Gold = the Glory of God

Silver = purchased by the Son

Precious Stones = by the Holy Spirit

Rare commodities in the world and will be refined by fire.

Wood, hay and stubble are plentiful in the world and will perish with fire.

[episkopos]

Act 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
Act 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
Act 9:12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Act 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Act 9:14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Act 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Act 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.


Was this not a typical work prepared in advance? Does this not display Ananias building with gold upon the foundation of Christ he has received? Doing the works of God in obedience constitutes OUR part in building our lives in holiness. God is always involved in the approving of what we are to do. If He is not so involved then are we not left to do things that APPEAR to be God's will (thereby building with earthen materials)?

[Saved7]

This is an awesome topic! I have to run in a few minutes so I can't really get into it but I will when time allows. Fortunately the Lord has given me some stuff to think about when it comes to this building code over the last couple of years.