GETTING THE INNER SANCTUM CLEAN

By Ken Blue

“Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.” Ezekiel 8:12.

Because of their wickedness, the nation of Israel had been taken captive to Babylon. Ezekiel was among those deported. While in captivity, God spoke to him and transported him, in spirit, back to Jerusalem to show him the extent of Israel’s corruption and idolatry. Much of the wickedness was observable and practiced by the members of the nation, but the greater sins were unseen and hidden from view; they were in the inner sanctum.

Within the inner chambers of the temple were drawings on the walls which portrayed every kind of evil imaginable. These images were symbols of the false, perverse gods which Israel had incorporated into their temple worship. Some are too vile to mention, others are described by the Apostle Paul. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” Romans 1:21-23. Do you know any religions that practice these things?

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Americans are more concerned with their appearance than they are their character.[/pullquote]

Not only had they descended into the worship of creation and the creatures, they embraced a philosophy that there were no absolute standards of morality. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” Romans 1:26-28.

Although the temple appeared respectable, and men marveled at its magnificent construction; when God was through with it not a stone was left standing. God does not judge according to outward appearance. Many Americans are more concerned with their appearance than they are their character. They have confused being nice or loving animals with spirituality.

Jesus makes it clear that it is not that which is without that corrupts the man; it is that which proceeds from within the chambers of imagery that defiles and destroys. Let us make sure that we get the inner sanctum clean; the rest will take care of itself.