John 2:12-22
And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple.
Jesus was mad when He saw the corrupt activities going on at the temple. Sinful exploitation had crept into the holy house of God. And He wasn’t just a little upset; He was visibly angry. Crack! People scatter in fear at the sound of His whip. Dashing into the temple court, Christ overturns the tables of the moneychangers and throws their money to the ground (perhaps looking more like Indiana Jones than our typical loving Savior). When He was finished, not one would-be profiteer remained. All had fled, no doubt for their own safety. Jesus was filled with righteous indignation. Zeal for Gods house consumed Him, and it was this zeal that would not allow Him to tolerate unholy things in that holy place. We must understand that God takes sin seriously, especially in the place where His name dwells.
Where is the temple today? Is it not the body of each living disciple of Christ where the Spirit of God dwells (1 Cor. 6:19)? How passionate are you then, dear child of God, for the purity of God’s temple, your own mind and body? Have you allowed the moneychangers to set up their tables unhindered in your life? Examine yourself.
The pure child of God thinks biblically, taking every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10.5). He dwells on the things of God and worships Him with his mind and his intellect. Where do your thoughts dwell? He also avoids all forms of immorality (1 Cor 6:19). Though the world tells him its okay to engage in self-seeking behavior outside of Gods revealed will, he has dedicated himself to glorify God in his body. Are you committed to honoring God through your actions?
If we are to be like Christ, we will not tolerate sin in God’s holy temple. At its first sight, we will be making our scourge of cords to drive it out. One of my professors once said, “Don’t wait until bedtime to confess your sin; confess it immediately and forsake it, the very moment you become aware of it.” Thankfully, God is quick to forgive. Maybe it’s time for you to do some housecleaning.