What a scene! Here's a place that is supposed to be serene. Peaceful. Worshipful. A place that is supposed to transport us into the presence of God. A quiet and restful place in which the Holy Spirit dwells. A place where, even as it was being built, there was no sound of a hammer striking iron. Here is a place where God is present and makes his very home. This is where God lives! That is why this is a place where Jesus loves to come. A place where God's love for people is contemplated, sacrifices are made, and thanksgiving is offered to Him because of his amazing grace. Here is a place that God designed Himself, for the very purpose of worshiping and honoring Him above anything or anyone else. A place where rest for our souls is found when the message of his full and free forgiveness fills its halls and rooms.

But today, what we observe in this place doesn't quite appear like the peaceful place devoted to worshiping and honoring God that it should be! We hear a lot of noise from the crowds of people and animals. The clinking of coins into scales and haggling, bartering and selling. The din of the crowd and the noise of making money are actually so loud that the beautiful sound of worshiping and praising God can't be heard in the background. The silence of peaceful prayer has disappeared! We see greed, materialism, and opportunities to take advantage of others. We see disappointment when someone gave more than they should have, and we see glee when someone received more than they should have. We see stinginess. We see stealing. We see people being hurt and other people not caring. And all of these things certainly take our eyes off what is more important - the altar of God where his love for us is shown every day. We no longer see the focal point in this temple - the Almighty God - for whom it was built and whose home it is! He has been crowded out! Disorder has taken His place!

You probably think that I am talking about the Temple in Jerusalem that Jesus walked into that day. I certainly could be. But actually, I am talking about you, your body and soul! You see, your body is the "temple of the Holy Spirit! 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" That's right, your body, your heart, your soul, is the place where God lives! It is dedicated to Him! He created you and then redeemed you. He bought you back, so you belong to Him and your body is his home. It is dedicated to Him. It is Our Father's house! And therefore, it is a place of worship! It should be peaceful and filled with prayer. It should show in all its activities, thoughts, words, in its sights and sounds, that God is the center of attention! It should be filled with the beautiful sounds of worship and praise to God. And in your heart, God should occupy the first place as He sits on his throne there. Your body and life is a place of worship, thanks, and dedication to God for what He has done for you!

That is what it should be. Just like the Temple in Jerusalem should have been. But it isn't, is it? It's a place of disorder instead of order, isn't it? Disorder fills this "Temple." Disorder fills our hearts and lives. Instead of putting God first and worshipping Him with our bodies, the thoughts, words, and actions that fill our hearts and occupy our "temples" are far from it! They are a loud, noisy, din that completely blocks out God's voice speaking to us. Instead of God's comforting words, we hear and see greed, selfishness, worldliness, and materialism. Instead of being concerned about what we can do for God, we are concerned with what we are getting for ourselves in life. And we are never satisfied with what we have - we always want more. And better things. And if we have to step on people in the process, oh well! We don't mind hurting other people's feelings. We don't mind taking advantage of others. As long as we get a better deal in life. As long as it helps our bottom line. And until we do get set materially and financially sound, we worry and fret. We trust in ourselves. Sometimes our bodies, which really are devoted as Temples to worship our loving God, look like anything but places of worship.

Much like the Temple Jesus walked into. It didn't look anything like the place of worship Jesus knew it was supposed to look like. There were so many things getting in the way of real worship there. There are so many things that get in the way of our worship of God. Even right here in church, there are countless things that distract us from the true reason we should be here for each Sunday - falling on our knees in front of God and honoring Him and thanking Him for his love and forgiveness! Whether we have people selling animals here or not, the distractions can be just as harmful. And most of them come from right here! (our hearts).

There is a powerful scene in the movie, The Godfather, Part III. If you have seen it, you might remember when the Godfather, Don Corleone, is forced to visit the distinguished Cardinal Lamberto to tell him the bad news that a legitimate business deal involving the Vatican Bank has gone bad. The bank is run by the Archbishop and a coalition of Catholic businessmen. The Cardinal listens to the Godfather; then the Cardinal says something quite profound. He picks up a stone and says, "Look at this stone. It has been lying in the water for a very long time. The water has not penetrated it." Then he smashes the stone. "Look," he says, peering at the smashed insides of the stone, "perfectly dry." The Cardinal continues, "The same thing has happened to people in Europe. They have been surrounded by Christianity for centuries, but Christ does not live in their hearts."

This is exactly what happened to the Temple in Jesus' time. There were people in the Temple who had been surrounded by the Temple for years, but the God of the Temple had not been allowed to enter their lives nor penetrate their hearts. St. Paul said, "They had the form of godliness, but not the real thing." That day Jesus drove the money changers out of the Temple, no doubt it looked to most people like Jesus was the one destroying the Temple. In truth, the ones buying and selling, and the leaders who allowed it were the destructive ones. They were destroying the true worship of the true God. And when we let the things of this world crowd out the main purpose in our life - to give glory to God - we are doing the same thing and not letting Christ live in our hearts. And Disorder Fills Our Temple!

But Jesus Restores Order! Jesus comes along and restores order by driving out the disorder in our lives! He has the authority and the ability to do that, just like He did in the Temple that day. No one introduced Jesus, and very few knew who He was. The Son of God and the Son of Man introduced Himself. He demonstrated the righteous wrath of God against people who dared to abuse the Holy Place. That's how He restored order there.

That's also how He restored order in our lives. You see, God hates sin. He won't allow sin in heaven with Him. So in order for us to be in heaven with Him, He sent Jesus to literally "drive sin out of our lives!" How was He going to do that? After He drove out the money changers, He was asked what authority He had to do that. Give us a sign to prove it, Jesus! He answered by saying, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." Now, they didn't really get what Jesus was talking about. But He was saying that just as those people destroyed the true worship of God in the temple, they would also destroy the temple of Jesus' body by putting Him to death on the cross. And then God, only God, could rebuild it again. But this is how Jesus could restore order in our lives. By going to the cross. This is why Jesus Had to Go to the Cross! To restore order in our lives by driving out our sins!

There is a story about a man who visited a church. He parked his car and started toward the front entrance. Another car pulled up nearby, and the irritated driver said to him, "I always park there. You took my place!" The visitor went inside and found that Sunday School was about to begin. He found an adult class, went inside, and sat down. A class member approached him and said, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing. After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down in an empty pew. Within moments another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took my place!" The visitor was troubled, but said nothing. Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to be present with them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. Scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and cried out, "What happened to you?" The visitor replied, "I took your place."

Some things that happen in our worship place, whether we are talking about the place we meet to worship here, or your very heart in which the Holy Spirit dwells, are silly, downright scandalous, or even a slap in the face of God! The disorder that fills our temple is not the business that God has in mind for it. At times, the lack of love in our church, our "worship place," could make Jesus wince. But the Church is still the body of Christ and it was for the Church that Christ died. And this is why Jesus had to go to the cross! He went there to drive all those sins and unloving things and selfishness right out of your lives! He loaded up those things you were trying to sell and shipped them out! He carried all your mistakes and greed to the cross and there He paid the price for them so you wouldn't have to! He got rid of all that stuff for you, so that now, your "Temple" is a perfect place of worship and glory and honor to God - just as He wants it to be! A place where He will dwell with you forever!

Because you know what? Three days later, Jesus rose again! The temple that was destroyed was also raised back up. And your temple that was destroyed by sin has also been raised back up. Order has been restored in your life because of Jesus' death and resurrection. Now, you not only have eternal life to look forward to, you have REAL ORDER back in your life! Order that was put there and order that is maintained by Jesus, whose loves you more than you could ever know!

I would like to close with a poem by William Cowper entitled: "The House of Prayer." "THY mansion is the Christian's heart, O Lord, thy dwelling place secure! Bid the unruly throng depart, And leave the consecrated door. DEVOTED as it is to Thee, A thievish swarm frequents the place; They steal away my joys from me, And rob my Saviour of His praise. THERE, too, a sharp designing trade, Sin, Satan, and the World maintain; Nor cease to press me, and persuade To part with ease, and purchase pain. I KNOW them, and I hate their din; Am weary of the bustling crowd; But while their voice is heard within, I cannot serve Thee as I would. OH! For the joy Thy presence gives, What peace shall reign when Thou art there; Thy presence makes this den of thieves A calm delightful house of prayer. AND if Thou make Thy temple shine, Yet, self-abased, will I adore: The gold and silver are not mine; I give Thee what was Thine before." Amen.

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