Before the Babylonians came in and destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, God had warned that this would happen. God refused to share His dwelling place with other “gods”. These “gods” polluted the sanctuary with idolatry.

Not wanting His people to perish God had sent warning after warning.  Yet the people would not change their wicked ways. When Israel defiled God’s dwelling place and abandoned her covenant He left. Unlike these foreign man-made “gods”, the God of Heaven is not limited by range or sphere of influence. And when He leaves an unholy dwelling place, his power is not diminished.

Similarly, God has now made His dwelling place within the heart of faithful baptized believers. So, what are the warnings we Christians should immediately stop ignoring?

1. Avoid all sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 (ESV) — 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
2. Avoid laziness – we must have an active faith. Romans 12:11 (ESV) — 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
3. Avoid corrupt talk. Lies, gossip, malice, slander and abusive words should be avoided at all cost. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) — 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
4. Avoid all forms of godlessness. Titus 2:12–13 (ESV) — 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
5. Avoid stealing. This can be as subtle as not declaring tax or not putting in an honest day’s work. Ephesians 4:28 (ESV) — 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing
   honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

What a sad day it must have been for all who witnessed God’s Glory departing from His temple.

Since it is impossible to avoid sin, how do we prevent the Glory of the Lord from departing from us? It is extremely simple. Please, today, without delay confess your sins and turn from your evil ways.

1 John 1:7–9 (ESV) — 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.