The Biblical Reason for This Healthy Adventure

The King’s Palace

   His palace was breathtaking, and almost too beautiful for the eye to behold.  The King had grown accustomed to its grandeur, but today His eyes seemed to be penetrating as He fixed His gaze upon each intricate part of His palace. 

   The layout of the palace was perfect, the King mused to Himself.  There were three levels of splendor, and from the impressive sixty-foot long front hall, to the most sacred room in the rear of the palace, it was magnificent.  Even all of the interior walls were lined from floor to ceiling with the finest of cedar, and they were covered with stunning carvings of ornate gourds and open flowers. 

   The King slowly walked on to the inner sanctuary of the building.  It too, was perfect the King thought to Himself, as His eyes scanned the room.  It was thirty feet long, thirty feet wide, and thirty feet high, and every inch of it was covered with pure gold.  Its olive wood doors were carved with cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and all of the carvings were overlaid with beaten gold.  Gold chains hung across the front of the room, where a majestic altar overlaid with gold and an ark symbolizing a covenant shone brightly.

   Two cherubim of identical size and shape were fashioned out of olive wood and overlaid with gold.  They were fifteen feet tall, and their powerful wings stretched out to span the whole length of the room.  Even the walls all around the palace were carved with cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and the floors of both the inner and outer rooms were completely covered with gold. 

   The King’s royal robe made a brilliant reflection on the gold floor, as He reminisced about the day He had first moved in.  His kingdom had gathered that day, in honor of His arrival.  The King had been forthright with them, telling them He would reside here, keeping His eyes and His heart here forever – on one condition – they had to serve Him faithfully.  He remembered the way they had welcomed Him and promised a lifetime of loyal allegiance to Him…

but they had not kept their promise. 

   The King stood at the door of His palace, knowing this was the last time He would be here.  His bags were packed and setting by the door.  He was true to His word, and He would not be living here anymore.  Although in His wisdom He’d known this would happen, it still saddened Him.  If He hadn’t had the foresight to send His Son to help these fallen people, what would have happened to His kingdom?

   The King’s glory would live on, just in a new residence - thanks to the courageous work His Son had done.  His Son’s sacrifice made it possible for the King to move closer to His people, to live among them, where He could be central in their lives again – and it was time for the King to move on.  With that final satisfying thought, the King quickly shut the door with a resounding thud and was gone. 

   The King never resided in just one palace again.  Instead, He was said to be seen living among different Christian people everywhere.  Many people in the kingdom soon began asking, “Do you know where the King is?  Has He found His residence with you?  If He lives with you, be sure to make His new palace beautiful; be sure to make it a place worthy of our King.”  (Based on 1 Kings 6 – 9)

 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body. 

(1 Corinthians  6:19-20)