09/24/2026
Those who seem to always focus on “What Was” struggle to live in the here and now. They’re always found talking about how things used to be. They consider those times as the good ole days or maybe the glory days. Therefore, when they look at what is in the present or they look ahead at what is to come, they can’t see the LORD’S good in the here and now or HIS future good because they’re caught up in the “What Was”. Consider this thought found in today’s passage and devotional message.
Look Ahead
The Bible says - Haggai 2: 3, 4
"Does anyone remember this…the Temple in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all. Be strong… get to work, for I am with you says the LORD of HEAVEN"S ARMIES!”
Pastor's Thought
Today’s passage comes from Haggai’s second sermon. At this time, the people of Judah had been working to rebuild the Temple for about seven weeks. He preached this message on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This day was meant to be a great day of rejoicing; but for Judah, it turned out to be a day of Discouragement and Hopelessness. The reason is this; the people were Looking Back instead of Looking Ahead! When they saw the Temple foundation, which had been laid sixteen years earlier, the older men wept as they remembered the former splendor and glory of Solomon’s Temple which this new Temple lacked. Their grief was fueled by the fact that they knew it was their sin and the sin of their forefathers that had caused the original Temple’s destruction. (This same sinful attitude is in the life of many Born-again Believers today. They look back on their previous life and say, "Because of the sin against my HEAVENLY FATHER, my New Life in CHRIST has been ruined; it can't be worth much today.") Even if the difficulties you’re now enduring are the consequences of your past sinful actions, make the choice to resist focusing on that which is done; it cannot be changed. This is what GOD, the LORD of HEAVEN'S ARMIES, was saying to these discouraged leaders. “Be strong all you people left in the land, and now get to work, for I am with you” (2:4).
When you involve yourself in the work GOD designed for you long ago (read Ephesians 2: 10) your focus is turned away from past failure. Your faith can now focus on the wonders (the unimaginable) that lie ahead. When you’re looking forward, your perception is always, “What’s Next, LORD.” “Looking Ahead”, you are like the watchman who anticipates the wonders which the LORD has prepared for you to know and experience. The LORD also said through the prophet, “Once again, I am going to shake up this world and one day (I will) establish MY Eternal Temple” (Ref. Haggai 2: 6 – 9). Hebrews 12: 26 – 29 says, "When GOD spoke from Mount Sinai, HIS voice shook the earth, but now HE makes another promise: 'Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.' This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain." Can it be said about your faith that it remains grounded in the unshakable WORD of GOD and led by HIS HOLY SPIRIT?
GOD promises that the glory of the Millennial Kingdom's Temple will far exceed the glory of the former Temple. “And there HE will give peace.” In other words, my friends, the best is yet to come! By Faith the Born-again Believer can know that one day you, the Temple of the HOLY SPIRIT, will be brought into the fullness of HIS New Kingdom! However, let us not wait for that time in misery and sorrow. Through the same Faith that led you to Believe CHRIST JESUS, you have the assurance of having received the Indwelling HOLY SPIRIT – Acts 2: 38 – 39. Through the HOLY SPIRIT, you now live in HIS KINGDOM; and my friends, GOD’S KINGDOM is UNSHAKABLE! Therefore, don’t bewilder yourself by focusing on the former things; those things are dead in CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:17). Be thankful; daily Look Ahead. “Look Ahead” to the place where GOD the FATHER is leading you. “Look Ahead” to how HE will fulfill HIS purpose through you who are the Temple of HIS HOLY SPIRIT.
My friends, as you are daily Building up your life’s Temple on the FOUNDATION of GOD’S WORD, always be found “Looking Ahead”!!!
In CHRIST’S Service for HIS Glory,
Pastor David
