In the book of Exodus, God declared to Moses that He would like to dwell amongst His people. God gave detailed instructions regarding the structure of His dwelling place. These instructions included specific measurements, materials, and methods of construction. God also provided details for how people should approach His dwelling place and who could actually enter. After studying the intricacy of God’s instructions regarding His dwelling place, you can only come to one conclusion. God is holy. Consequently, God expects to be treated with love and reverence. The beauty and worth of God’s dwelling place reflected His holiness.
I place so much emphasis on the sacred nature of God’s dwelling place for two reasons. The first reason is God places much emphasis on the fact that He is worthy of reverence. The second reason is that with the fulfillment of the law (through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) those of us who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior become the dwelling place for God’s Holy Spirit. If God had strict instructions regarding a constructed tabernacle in the first covenant, how much more significant are His instructions for how we ought to live as His tabernacle in this new covenant?
We must have clean hands, pure hearts, and right spirits. We must have the mind of Christ. We must love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our might. We must love our neighbors as ourselves. We must live righteously and abhor all forms of sin. We must be holy as God is holy. Living holy includes taking care of your physiological being. You cannot eat poorly or abuse substances and be a worthy dwelling place. You cannot desecrate your being or the beings of others and expect God to dwell within you. When God indicated His desire to dwell with His people, it was a decision made out of undying love. God wants to be around you and fellowship with you. God wants to commune with you and be a part of your daily life. Awareness of God’s immense love should make following His instructions easier. God’s commands are not meant to burden us, but to protect us from strongholds.
Today, I encourage you to reflect on your current lifestyle. Is your way of life conducive to making you a dwelling place for God? Or are you in a condition where God has to distance Himself from you? Wherever you are in the journey, do not be discouraged. Talk to God and ask Him to make you a clean vessel for His presence. Thank God for His love and recommit yourself to learning how to love God the way He deserves to be loved.
Love,
CompassionateLee
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.