AHA!

There is a road I travel frequently and just recently I saw a little gravel road that someone had carved out leading back into a wooded lot. A sign had been erected at the entrance that merely stated,SANCTUARY. You couldn't see anything from the road,not a building,bulldozer or any sign of movement at all. There was an air of mystery about it and I just can't stop thinking about it. So, you know what that means... I began to ponder the word,sanctuary. The dictionary defines it as a holy place or a place of refuge. Funny thing how God speaks at just the right time ,if you are listening. In my daily Bible reading this morning in Ezekiel the scriptures were:"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said "AHA!" over my Sanctuary when it was desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,therefore I am going to give you to the people of the east as a possesssion." God makes it clear here that He does not take it lightly when we say "AHA!" over His Sanctaury when it is being harmed in any way. But what exactly is His sanctuary? Back then, it was a building because that is where God's presence dwelt among the Israelites but today God has made it clear that those who invite Jesus into their lives to forgive and cleanse them also invite in the Holy Spirit to dwell within them and therefore we become God's Sanctuary. If that is true, why do we take such poor care of God's Sanctuary? Are we saying"AHA!" when we run around and never rest,drink,smoke,eat junk constantly? Are we saying,"AHA!" when we worry and forget to pray? How can we be a place of refuge for others when we are sick,tired and harried ourselves? Please believe me this is convicting to me and I am not preaching to you but to myself. I think of the song:"God prepare me to be a sanctuary,pure and holy,tried and true. With Thanksgiving,I'll be a living sanctuary for YOU!"
My prayer for us is simple: May we never say"AHA!" over God's sanctuary and may we become a refuge for all those seeking comfort and shelter in our lives.