I joy in reading the Old Testament passages on Solomon’s building of the Temple, beauty, fine materials, composition and concept abound. I consider deeply what that means juxtaposed against the New Testament’s passages declaring us the new temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). We are compelled to look at these Old Testament passages to give us some knowledge as to what the newer passages mean to us and what bearing they should have on how we live Christianly. A reflection of the beauty of the original Temple should be apparent in our own lives. The beauty of love for God and for our fellow humans is our principal concern however it would behoove us to require a new or renewed sensitivity to beauty as seen in our physical world as well as that created by our human hands? Awareness of beauty, be that art, a mountain peak or a beautifully formed red apple draws us toward God and how our own lives should be lived with sincerity. This awareness has one other benefit, it creates in us an ongoing and prolonged sense of gratitude and gratitude cultivates love. However, the crux of this is “awareness.” Being aware is one of those human traits dulled and often lost by a culture more and more deadened by technological devices that keep us locked in a virtual world held in our hands. A Googled apple can never approach the beauty of a real one nor draw us toward God in thankful gratitude.
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