Go Up, Bring Down & Build

“Go up into the mountains, and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.” (Haggai 1:8; italics added)

"Go up. . . bring down. . .build my house."

Yes, this was an imperative to the Israelite nation, delivered by the prophet Haggai, but also, the way I see it, this is a tried-and-true formula for spiritual growth.

GO UP—Go up the mountain, to the heights of the heavenly realm. Intentionally leave the earthly behind. Just as Moses, the man who talked to God “face to face," went up the mountain of God, leave the camp—the endless distractions and clamoring noises of life—and have quiet discourse with God, your Creator, Sustainer, and Father. Through authentic intimacy and meditation on His most hallowed Word, His engulfing presence and eternal perspective will transport you to a higher, holier plain than Earth's present realities.

BRING DOWN—Bring down to your earthly reality the takeaway—the “timber,” so to speak—from your study of the Word and counsel of the Spirit. Transport it from the heavenly realm to the earthly, to the realities of your day-to-day life. Because what good is timber if it remains on the mountain? No matter how lofty or potentially stabilizing the "timber" is, if cut only to stay stationary and unused, nothing is accomplished, except the momentary experience of cutting the timber.

BUILD MY HOUSE—Use the “timber," the specific truth you brought down from the heavenly realm, to build His house. To build the temple of the Lord. And what is this house? It’s you. It’s me. As God’s children, we are the temple of the living God (I Corinthians 3:16). An earthly body in which the very Spirit of Christ resides (I Corinthians 6:19). Partnered with daily submission and surrender, we use the heavenly timber to construct a sanctified dwelling for the Lord (Matthew 7:24; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1). It’s a lifetime build, as we daily crucify our wills to His, allowing His timber to transform our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions into a house that’s “holy and pleasing” to Him (Romans 12:1-2). It's a worshipful offering for the God who's so deserving.

At times, it feels painful and so slow-going. After all, building a house is no flippant, faint-of-heart task, and no quick feat. It takes firm resolve and determined perseverance as we “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), “fixing our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

But what results throughout the sojourning of our earthly lives is a house our great God—our most merciful, gracious, loving Father—can “take pleasure in” and “be honored” through.

And, ultimately, this is why we were created.

For His good pleasure. For His great glory.