God’s Farm, God’s Building
The Bible begins with created man in a garden with “every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.” The Bible concludes with God and man built together in His life to be New Jerusalem. “The city was pure gold, like clear glass” (Rev. 21:18b).
First Corinthians 3:9 is a miniature of these two. “You are God’s cultivated land, God’s building.” God’s cultivated land, His farmland, portrays not only life but even more the growth of life. This life brings forth God’s building, which is God’s dwelling place, His believers knit together to form 
His living house.
This is the focus of the Bible: God in Christ as life enters into man to grow in man and to form these men into a corporate expression of Himself which ultimately is New Jerusalem.
Ephesians does not mention the plant life of the garden but it does couple growth with building. Verses 2:20-22 are about God’s building, His temple, His dwelling place. Verse 21 also speaks of “all the building growing.” Verses 4:15-16 present “the Head Christ” out from whom a rich supply flows for “the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.”
This is God’s New Testament building, alive and growing to be built together. God’s Old Testament building was physical because prior to the redemption of Christ God’s life could not come into us. Now we have both redemption and life; this life grows and builds us together unto New Jerusalem.
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com.
Posted by Don on February 4, 2022
