The Divine Tenant

Two days ago, in prayer, I was again overwhelmed by the awareness of this perennial presence of God. At one point, I playfully asked the Lord if He had signed a rental agreement for my house, where He was only squatting, because He seemed to have taken up residence there. Besides, given all the space He occupies, He might think, I said later, to write me a check at the end of the month.

Irreverence? No, family conversation, family fun, family laughter, with God it's a family affair. We can only marvel, again and again, at the access we have to our heavenly Father and God's receptiveness to us; which, after all, makes perfect sense, wasn't it He who took the initiative to bring us closer to Himself when we were far away and to set in motion His plan of reconciliation?

Reconciliation made, Would He now choose to keep us at a distance? It seems to me not. In reality, we are made for intimacy; but it is unfortunately just as true that what we sometimes call intimacy is just casualness, a refusal to take God or the things of God seriously. And to justify our lack of seriousness, we appeal to the fact that we are no longer under the Old Covenant, we have become friends of God.

But isn't it true, however, that God's friends take God seriously and themselves not the least bit seriously? True intimates are so from the heart. Intimacy is heart to heart, a deep communion. Intimacy is where my heart beats with His, intimacy is crying tears of joy just thinking about the fact that I know Him, intimacy is sitting quietly in His presence without needing words to communicate. The great news of reconciliation through Jesus is that God is once again easily accessible to man.

This is why the author of Hebrews eloquently speaks to us of the new access we have been given to God, urging us to use it. And when we do, we are amazed at the enthusiastic welcome, the arms stretched out to embrace us, and the enduring presence we encounter. I believe we need to give God a more enthusiastic welcome into our lives, our homes, and our entire space.

I believe that God is looking for places on earth that He can fill with Himself and His presence, that are totally open to Him. And it doesn't have to be church buildings. It can very well be our homes, our offices, our entire space. So, I ask for nothing else, that God can make my home like His home. Selah!