Like a Cathedralfeatured

My husband and I recently vacationed in Europe where we had the opportunity to visit several medieval cathedrals. As we toured these magnificent buildings, we gained some insight into how these buildings were designed for worship but also for teaching the ordinary people (mostly illiterate) about Christ and how to live as his disciple.

In medieval times most people lived in small, dimly lit homes often on narrow, dark streets. In contrast, cathedrals soared above other buildings; their tall windows allowing light to stream into the interior. The cathedrals served as beacons of Christ’s light that broke through into the darkness of sin in the towns surrounding them. Their stained-glass windows depicted scenes from the life of Christ and other Bible stories so the people could learn about their Savior.  The walls were adorned with paintings or tapestries that also communicated the gospel narrative. The towering ceilings were decorated to provide worshipers a glimpse of heaven, encouraging them to look heavenward.

As I soaked in the beauty of the cathedrals, I began to think about how God might want us to resemble a cathedral.  In 1 Corinthians 6:19 the apostle Paul tells us, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”  Paul re-emphasized this in Ephesians 2:22 saying, “…you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Temples (and cathedrals!) are places of worship, prayer, refuge, as well as spiritual growth and development.  Since I (and you!) have the Spirit of God living in me, I began to wonder if my life met the standard of being a cathedral.

Do I stand tall, beacon-like and unashamed as a Christian? Jesus said, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). Fear of being weird sometimes keeps me from being cathedral-like in boldly expressing my faith in Jesus Christ.

Do I let the light of Jesus shine into the “windows” of my life and into the lives of others?  Does my life help dispel the darkness of a broken world?  Jesus tells us he is the light of the world in John 8:12. In Matthew 5:14-16 he tells us we are his light in the world and commands us to let our lights shine before others.  My light is not always strong and steady and has a nasty tendency to flicker.

Do the stories recorded on my “walls and windows” communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ? Does my life communicate Biblical truths to others?  Paul leave no doubt of our calling in these verses:

• “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospelof Christ” (Philippians 1:27).
• “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

The stories in my life sometimes aren’t worthy of the gospel and don’t demonstrate God’s truth effectively.

Do people get a glimpse of heaven in their encounters with me? Do I encourage others to look heavenward?  Philippians 3:20 tells us that our citizenship is in heaven.  Our status in heaven ought to be reflected in our thoughts and actions but all too often I my thoughts and actions are definitely earth-bound.

How can I live more and more like a cathedral? I think the apostle Paul might have wanted the people of Colossae (and us!) to be like cathedrals. As we invite the Holy Spirit to do his work in our lives, our lives will become more and more like a cathedral. Let it be our prayer today!

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:9-12).