20 August | EVERYONE
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2: 6,7
It is estimated that the construction of the world's most expensive building complex, the famous Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, cost 6 billion dollars. However, the temple that Solomon dedicated to God would be valued today at more than 7 billion dollars, only in what it had of gold; that is not counting silver, precious stones, fine wood, and marble.
Unfortunately, the Babylonian army destroyed Solomon’s temple. Years later, after the exile, it was rebuilt, but without the splendor or brilliance of the first temple.
The words of the prophet Haggai were spoken at the end of the rebuilding of the temple. From the human point of view, it was inferior to that of Solomon. Nothing would surpass the beauty of the first temple; however, God said that the glory of the second would surpass that of the first.
In what sense would this prophecy be fulfilled? God Himself responds by saying that "the Desire of All Nations" shall come. It refers to Jesus, the Redeemer who would come into the world to save humankind. He was born as a child and at the age of eight days was taken to the temple that was rebuilt in the days of Haggai. Jesus' presence brought incomparable glory to that temple.
The lesson we learn is that a person's glory is not measured by outward beauty, nor by the gifts or abilities they may have. Human things are temporary. Neither gold, nor silver, nor precious stones can eclipse the brilliance of a person who has Jesus in their heart. Glory refers to God's character and when His children reflect it.
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Many people do not discern well the true longings of their hearts. They ignore the fact that it desires nothing more than to find Jesus. And you, have you already found Him to fulfill your desires?