Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1.

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? John 14:2.

I couldn’t help but think about the above verses as I read 2 Chronicles 3. Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. v. 1. (In the notes below: Mount Moriah was also the place where God had stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18).

Nothing lasts forever. Our chapter today is retelling the account of the building of the temple by Solomon that had already been destroyed once. Jesus foretold it would be destroyed again. Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Matthew 24:1-2.

How is God our refuge of hope? God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1. His help is not contained in a building made by human hands. His help is in our hearts turned to Him. Our help is not from nations no matter how strong. Our real help is found in turning to Him. As we take His hand we find comfort and strength and Love. We begin to long for His truth to guide us when the ways of this world fail us. His faithfulness stands.

Have you ever given thought to why Jesus came to us? He was such a comfort and his teachings were given with an authority that was palpable and real to all who heard Him speak. They recognized Truth given in Love. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7. To us who need He was given. Do you need help in trouble? Do you need refuge from pain? Do you need comfort in distress? He was given to us by God…Father, Son, Spirit. Our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, our Prince of Peace. He is our refuge of comfort, faithfulness, eternal truth and unending Love. All else will be thrown down. How could it not? One day we will all of us realize how we are failed by this world’s systems. Scripture is a history of us and our choices and how we are impacted by those choices. They are a history of God coming to live among us and the impact of that truth.

How about today? His promise. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the place where I am going. John 14:3-4. It may seem like a long time since Jesus walked this earth and told the disciples every stone of the 2nd temple would be thrown down. Is it really? Each one of us will one day shed our mortal bodies. That’s not so long! He is our refuge of hope for eternal life with God. Thank You, Lord, for so great a hope given with so great a Love. I trust Him. The Creator of all that is knows what each heart needs. He knows our sins and how much we have been hurt by them and have hurt others in them. He knows. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6. Never forget He was given to us by the Father who loves us. He knows the way because He is the way that He made. He will be with us now and He will be with us when this life is finished. Take His hand. He’s here and with Him is the comfort you seek. His Love heals all wounds. His Love brings joy!