For those who came to worship in Jerusalem, even the walls were special. The temple building was beloved. What made the place special was the presence of God, and yet the city walls and temple courts were much to be desired. It would be wonderful to be like the birds that nested there, always at home in that place, the psalmist reflected in Psalm 84.

God is present through His Spirit in all believers without needing a temple building, but we still consider precious the place where we regularly gather to worship, fellowship, and serve with God’s people, especially when we’ve made the pilgrimage to one church building for decades.

The Selma Reformed Presbyterian Church building was made of bricks and wood, but those bricks and wood meant something. For the people who worshiped the Lord together there, served the needy, taught children and new believers, responded to the gospel, and shone a witness to their community from that place, the building was ...