I've been walking through the Old Testament lately and came across 2 Samuel 7. David is in the midst of a time of peace, some downtime to think. He looked around his nice cedar home and realizes God doesn't have a house. He doesn't feel right that the ark, "the presence of God", was still in a tent. He felt convicted. He mentions it to Nathan, and Nathan agreed and told him to go and do, that God was with Him. (Notice here that neither checked with God on this idea.)
Later, God speaks to Nathan and tells him differently. It's an interesting passage--go read it. (2 Samuel 7:1-17)
Then, I heard an echo from the New Testament. Hundreds of years later, Jesus took three of His disciples up a mountain. (Matthew 17:1-17) Jesus is transfigured before them and Moses and Elijah show up. Peter, so excited, comes up with an idea. He suggests to Jesus that they could build them three tents to keep them there. But God had the final say. He said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This knocked the three men down on their faces. When Jesus touched them, they looked up and all was back to normal. No bright light, no Moses or Elijah, no special mountain top community.
For several weeks now we have been missing our church family. We've been isolated in our homes to watch church online. We supported our local church for many years...helping paint, serving in ministries and giving to keep the building open. And now, the doors are closed to protect the people from an invisible virus.
All over the world, church buildings are closed. And there are many versions of man's home for God. From thousands of square feet with stained glass to mud bricks and dirt floors. When we wanted to "get close" to God, we felt the call to enter the doors of the building. But now, those places are empty. So we do our best from our home with televised worship, online preaching and streaming sermons.
What I realized after reading those two passages in isolation, is that God cannot be contained. He doesn't seem to want a building. He wants the people IN the building. My mistake is trying to put God in a box.
John 14 shows us Jesus talking with His disciples. They were concerned about seeing Him again. He assures them that He is going to prepare a place for them. Imagine that...the One who we've been trying to build a home for wants us to come live with Him in eternity! No wonder the building on earth is not that important to Him. As long as He has a place in our hearts, He has the only home He ever wanted.
Dear Reader, in this time of isolation, quarantine and fear...be encouraged. You don't need to visit a church building to experience God. Open your Bible and read. He speaks to our hearts all the time. We just need to get a little more quiet time to hear that still, small voice.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7 ESV
