The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:9)
Have you ever used the phrase “the good old days”? Sometimes, we use it to talk about how what we have today pales compared to how wonderful the past was. However, many times, we look at the past with rose-colored glasses. We forget the problems, issues, and stressors that existed back then.
In Haggai, the people of Israel were rebuilding the temple. This task was daunting for the Israelites, especially after the destruction of Solomon's Temple. Many of the older generation wept because they remembered how wonderful the former temple was. Yet God’s promise, through Haggai, assured them that the glory of the latter house would be even greater than the first.
The second Temple was much grander, being expanded and adorned by King Herod, a man known for his incredible architectural skills and ruthless and immoral behavior. God can use even flawed individuals to accomplish His plans for you. God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. God sees what we may see as strange or impossible to use as an opportunity to fulfill His purposes.
Don’t glorify the past, assuming that nothing can be better than what it was. We must seek God, knowing His plans always take us from glory to glory.
Practical Application
God has greater things in store for you! Open your heart to dream with God. Just as God used Herod’s skills despite his flawed character, He can use anyone for His purposes. Don’t write off people or situations because they don’t seem good enough. Instead, look for how God may work through them to accomplish His will.