The Bible says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . . a time to break down, and a time to build up . . ." (Eccl.3:1-3). It is not easy when we see something fall apart that we have worked hard to build. Such times are difficult to go through but are necessary, because after the breaking down can come a time of rebuilding of something that cannot be broken. For many, the break down time is over, and the Spirit of God is saying, "This is a time to build up!"

I am not referring to that outward kind of building that impresses the world; I am speaking about building within the Kingdom of God. This magnificent work will not be visible to those who only look at things with their natural eyesight, because this building work is taking place in another dimension. Regardless of how much we have dedicated our lives to the Lord's work, we will not understand the real work of God if we insist on working in the outer realm, building tangible things that can be seen. The real building work that God is doing is in the inner realm. Paul the apostle said, "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2Cor.4:18). It takes faith to be able to see things that are not seen (Heb.11:1).

We have managed to impress many by the self image we have spent a lifetime building; we have gained much attention by the church buildings we have erected; we have entertained multitudes with our religious activities; but all of that is nothing but playing in the dust compared with the building work of God! We should stop building our sand castles and get excited about the work that He is doing.

God is the Magnificent Builder. Even the temporal things built by Him are glorious. The Bible says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork" (Ps.19:1; 102:25). Handiwork?! This universe that is too great for the human mind to begin to comprehend is only His handiwork?! Yes, it is, in His sight, when it is compared with what He is now building in His inner kingdom. At His appointed time, God will take the universe and, as a vesture, fold it up. Then He will spread it out new (Heb.1:12) so it will be compatible with what He is now building within His Kingdom, which all creation is longing to see (Rom.8:19).

If the value of the universe could be calculated, it would be cheap compared with the value of what God is building in His inner kingdom. If we dare to look, the price tag can be seen; it is attached to the cross of Calvary.

Most things can be seen clearly when they are viewed the right way. We now have sophisticated high-tech instruments that can explore millions of light years into the universe; yet we cannot see one speck of the inner kingdom that is being built unless we use the special instrument given to all of us. That instrument is FAITH!

Abraham knew how to use his faith. His vision went far beyond his outward trip to the promised land of Canaan; he was also on an inward journey: "FOR HE LOOKED FOR A CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD"! (Heb.11:10).

Do you know where the location is for that spiritual city Abraham was looking for? IT IS WITHIN YOU! YOU ARE THE BUILDING SITE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM! The inner being of every person who is or is to become a child of God is His holy building place. That is where the real work of God is. Only what is built there--by Him--will last. The kind of work that stores up heavenly rewards is not the work WE do, but rather the work we allow God to do within us and what we allow Him to do through us to build up the inner lives of others.

Speaking to you who are sanctified in Christ Jesus (1Cor.1:2), the Bible says that you are God's building (1Cor.3:9), that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you (1Cor.3:16). God gave instructions right down to the smallest detail of how the temple in the Bible was to be built. The blueprint for the physical temple is symbolic of the pattern for the spiritual building that is to take place in our hearts, which is the meticulous unseen work of God within His kingdom. Jesus said, ". . . behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21).

Would you let some inept builder construct a physical house for you? Are you going to let just anyone work on building you up in your new creation?! Are you going to let the deadly letter of the word destroy your spiritual life, or are you going to let the Spirit of the word fill your inner being with the life of Christ (2Cor.3:6)?

Christ must be in the heart before any spiritual house for God can be made. He is the only true Foundation (1Cor.3:11); everything must be built on Him. Only in Christ can one be built up in truth and righteousness, and have a true identity comprehension as a child of God. Constructing a house on top of something that cannot support it is foolish (Mat.7:26); likewise, it is senseless to try to build a spiritual life without Christ as the foundation which upholds all. Building the interior finish work of a house is impossible before the foundation is in place; and it is nothing but a waste of time to try to build a spiritual life without beginning with true repentance from sin and real faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Unless a life has been cleansed by the blood of Christ and made new by the power of God, there is really nothing to build on that will not, in time, crumble.

God is a very good Builder. He does everything perfectly. He is right on schedule in making a house for Himself that He planned before the creation of the world. He has given some of us a look at the blueprint of that house and also the privilege of helping Him. He is the Builder, and we can only be helpers as the Holy Spirit leads us: "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it . . ." (Ps.127:1). The Holy Spirit does not have to work according to our schedule. We are not to try to run our Heavenly Father's business; it is enough if He allows us to have the joy of being His helpers.

In trying to accomplish God's work on earth, many think they have to train and organize, even though God already has His workers, whom He has prepared, right where He wants them. And they know how to operate in quietness and peace, rather than in a frantic worldly pace that would burn out a worker before he or she can hardly get started.

When Nehemiah first went to view his building project, it was such a pile of burned rubble that his donkey could not climb over it (Neh.2:14); but that did not discourage him and the others who were given a vision from God to build up the walls of Jerusalem (which represent the strength and security of God's people). Some will look at their own life or the life of another and see nothing but a broken down mess; while others, who have a calling from God to be His builders, will see a vision of what that life will be like after the Great Creator works on it! I would much rather see one precious living "stone" (Christian) being built up in the love of God (1Pet.2:5) than to have a world wide tour of all the famous buildings of man.

Since my childhood I have had a desire to build. As I was growing up, I tried to learn to be good at it, but my progress was slow. It was later in life, after I was married and built our first house, that my building ability really began to develop. It was after I found I could build my own house that I felt able to work on someone elses. I know that in my work of spiritual building it is vital for me to first work on my own "house" which needs to be constantly built up in the grace of God; and, needless to say, doing any building on my spiritual house would not be possible for me without my first being "married" to Christ. Many gospel workers, including pastors and evangelists, have taken a big crash because they neglected their own spiritual lives while they were trying to build up the lives of others; or they allowed themselves to get caught up in building things in the outer realm while neglecting their own inner lives.

Our Lord is preparing us to be His kind of builders. Whomever He allows to be of help must do the work with the greatest of care. He will not let us get away with operating in the fashion of a worldly builder. He wants us, according to His grace, to be wise master builders (1Cor.3:10).

No matter how unqualified we may feel, God is calling many of us apart to help build His holy house. Let us not dwell on what has been broken down, but rather on what is being built up by the hand of God. As we build up our own lives and the lives of others in the love of God, let us disregard our man made blueprints, asking the Lord to touch our minds so that we will want to do things His way. And if His way differs from our old, traditional, well-organized, methodical way of doing things . . . well . . . so be it, Lord!

Before you let any pastor or church leader get you too involved in their outer realm building projects--which include not only buildings of wood and stone, but things, such as, membership drives, fundraising programs, organized fellowship meetings, and a host of other religious activities--it would be wise on your part to spend some quality time alone, in quietness, with Jesus, asking Him to reveal to you His building plans for your life. Many will continue to ignore what is most important to our Heavenly Father and go right on building in clay what can be seen and admired by men, while God is building in His inner realm that which is eternal.

The New Jerusalem is rising like a solid rock coming up through the clay, which will cover and consume the whole earth. It is the rising River of God, and there is no stopping it. At the appointed time, it will shine forth with the glory of God for all to see. As for now, we can begin to sense in our spirit the closeness of its presence. All the shaking and crumbling you see going on in the world, in the religious establishments, and in your own life is just making room for that new City whose builder and maker is God!

Want to hear something incredible? Although God's City will be built right on schedule, you have the ability to stop His mighty hand from the work He wants to do within you. You were not created like a mechanical robot; you do have freedom of choice. God is not a controller of His children; He will not take the ground for His building site in your inner being by eminent domain. You permit what takes place in your inner life; whether it is good or bad, it needs your authorization. And, oh, what a glorious building work God will do within you--if you sign your name on His building permit!!