Be a temple, not a makeshift survival shelter

In a world where "my body, my choice" is a slogan shouted in defence of murder, it's hard to understand the idea that our bodies are not actually ours. We've built up this idea that we are completely independent, that no one can tell us what to do, and particularly in the case of Liberals, anyone who so much as hints at personal responsibility is said to be a bigot.

But the Bible tells a different story. God cares as much about what we do to our bodies as to the bodies of others. As such, we have a responsibility to look after ourselves, using our bodies for His glory. When we do things God didn't design us for, such as gluttony, or sexual immorality, God will hold us accountable for that.

For the Christian, there is an extra layer. Whereas an unbeliever is obviously not interested in the desires of the Holy Spirit, we believe He lives within us, just as our own spirit does. If we are the Temple of the Lord, should we not treat it as such?

Think of it this way: How grand was the Temple of God? Solomon didn't just gather a bunch of rocks and top it off with some dried leaves like some makeshift survival shelter. No, the Temple of God was so grand, the disciples boasted of it to Jesus (Mark 13:1).

Now, no matter how great a temple we build, it'll be nothing compared to God's. God is so rich that He uses gold as paving stones (Revelation 21:21). Compared to what God has built in Heaven, the temple did look like a makeshift survival shelter. But just because we cannot offer much to God, should we therefore offer Him nothing at all? If this is how men build temples of stone, we ought to present our bodies to Him in similar shape. Whatever you do with your body, make sure it will please the God who gave it to you.