THE MEASURING ROD
When much younger, I used to listen to story reading on radio station WMBI in Chicago. An aspiring writer for youth, I loved to hear stories written for a younger audience to see how the plot developed and the characters behaved.
One story embedded itself on my memory. Titled The Measuring Rod, a young girl, Greta, narrated how once a year an angel came to measure the souls of the town residents. Each person stood before the angel, who held a measuring rod in his hand.
One by one the angel measured not their outward appearance or height, but the person's character. Some of the ostentacious and prominent of them shriveled when touched by the rod. The angel admonished them to be less proud or to be more generous. Others who were humble both in appearance and status grew taller against the rod. Their goodnesses were not done to be seen but came from a pure motive. The angel commended them for their graciousness.
When Greta's turn came, she shrank in height. Ashamed, the girl begged not to be exposed for what she was before the rest who were watching. The angel gently instructed her to grow in God's grace by the next measuring day.
Last night while reading Zechariah 2:1, a "measusring rod" grabbed my attention once again. The center reference column in my Bible led me to Ezekiel 40:3, where a man appeared holding a measureing rod. Reading forward from that place, the measuring rod and measurements kept appearing through Chapter 48, the final chapter of Ezekiel. The Christian Standard Version (CSV) Bible I was using gives the measurements in today's standard units, so it was especially thought-provoking. The measures were detailed down to half a foot.
What was being measured? The Temple of God He is going to build in Jerusalem as the place for Messiah to dwell. It has courts and rooms, articles to be used in worship, a dedicated priesthood all described in great detail. It is promised to the nation of Israel as fulfillment of God's covenant with her. God has not forgotten His everlasting promise to her nor has He reneged on fulfilling it.
Chapters 40 thrugh 48 that tell the Temple's accommodations in such detail follow chapters 38 and 39 that prophesy the war soon to take place in the Middle East. A coalition of nations will march on Israel, only to fall victim to the wrath of God against them and the protective hand of love and deliverance for Israel.
Friend, we are very close to that war. How soon it occurs is known only to God. But it isn't far away. When it happens, soon to follow will be peace in Israel, during which time Jesus will take His throne in the Temple---not in a ruler's palace, but in a place of worship. He will rule justly and righteously forever...
How all of that unfolds is yet to be revealed by God when the fullness of time comes. Until then, we live by faith in Jesus, our Savior, Lord, King and High Priest. He is our All in All. Until then, keep your soul right in His sight and in love with Him---according to the Measuring Rod!