Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

–Parallel verses:
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭17‬
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

In the supernatural world, many people seek an experience. This is similar to a fish going after a lure, or “the bright, shiny thing”. When we take the bait, so to speak, of any spiritual experience that comes by without vetting it against the Word of God, we are going to be deceived. The disciples were enamored with the beautiful stones in the temple and the extravagance of the gifts donated to God. They were enamored with the bright, shiny things. Jesus redirected their attention to the truth. The temple they were looking at was about to become obsolete and set for destruction. This destruction was carried out by the Romans in 70 AD. Then they asked about the timing of the destruction of the temple. When would it be? And he again answered their question with a redirection: He redirected them to focus on his second coming and to be faithful until then. And he warned them that many would come proclaiming they were Jesus, or they are the one they should follow, sent from God. He warned them not to be deceived. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, the end will still be a way off.

And finally, we see that Paul expands on this thought after Jesus’ death and resurrection and the anointing of God’s Spirit at Pentecost. He describes the foundation we build the structure of our faith on. It is Jesus Christ. And the work we do while on earth and enlisted in God’s kingdom matters. We can either build our life’s legacy using wood, straw, and hay, which represent the perishable things of this world: such as wealth, position, power, and popularity. Or we can build with gold, silver, and costly stones. These represent the things of eternal value: 1) Building a close relationship with God by obeying his Word and seeking his face in prayer, 2) Building strong relationships of unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and 3) Preaching the gospel and making disciples.

When we do the latter, we are joined with the church and together we are the new temple of God. We are his people in a living, imperishable temple! He is wanting us to be built up in him and his ways, not in this world and in its ways.

Lord, thank you for how you redirected the focus of your disciples and how you redirect my focus too. Help me to seek after your long-term plan of building your Kingdom. May I build only things that are valuable in your eternal kingdom — saved lives and works to honor you!