When I lived in Tasmania, Australia, our church met in a local scout hall. It wasn't much. Scuffed up floors. Hard plastic chairs which required cushions not only for comfort but in an attempt to spruce the chairs up a bit. Most of the hall echoed as a vacant chamber with only a handful of chairs clustered in a corner where we meet for church. In winter, we huddled around the space heaters on the walls, never really warm in the cavernous space.
Yet, I have good memories of that place. The people inside it. The times we shared there. Very good memories.
But what if I'd been used to attending church in one of those huge, ornate cathedrals? Could I have seen the beauty in that old scout hall?
It would be hard to remember God's wonder, God's magnificent if you walked into a scout hall after being used to a cathedral. That's how the older generation who remembered Solomon's temple felt when they saw the much smaller temple Zerubbabel built.
Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Haggai 2:3 KJV
It was like seeing a scuffed up scout hall when they had sweet memories of a cathedral.
But God promised that 'The glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former.' Hag.2:9 KJV
Size, decoration doesn't matter to God. He doesn't need a fancy house.
But how could God say a scout hall would be more glories than a cathedral?
It's the heart of the people. What are gilded halls when He wants true worship?
God doesn't see things the same way we do. He looks at the hearts of the people.
The former temple had been destroyed because those inside it had impure hearts. Hollow, empty worship. Even vile corruption of worship.
God looked at the smaller temple, and it pleased Him because the hearts of those who built it built it for God's glory, because they loved Him. That's why God said the smaller temple would be greater than the former.
So even if you feel small, insignificant, ordinary. Know that size, decorations don't matter with God. It's what's inside that counts in His eyes.
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