God Among His People

But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!

II Chronicles 6:18

King Solomon asked this piercing question as He dedicated the great temple he had built for the Lord. I must admit that it is an apt question. As a whole, the human race is hopelessly corrupt, selfish, and debase. Would a holy God live among us? 

Solomon's question is answered in several places throughout Scripture, notably in Ezekiel 37 and Revelation 21. In Ezekiel 37 God reveals His desire to do nothing less than dwell among His people in the sanctuary of His temple.

...I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’” (Ezekiel 37:26-28)

In Revelation 21 the apostle John is given a glimpse of what this will look like in heaven as he hears a loud voice coming from the throne of God proclaiming...

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)

It turns out that God's desire to dwell among His people and exist in close relationship with us is a central pillar of His great plan for us. It has been ever since Adam and Eve first rebelled against Him and broke the close relationship that they enjoyed with Him. Since that day God has been working to regain that relationship with His people. 

How can we ignore a God who desires closeness with us like this? How can we ignore a God who paid such a high price (the blood of Christ) to make this closeness possible? Yet, we do. We ignore the Word that He labored to put into our hands. We take it for granted and let it gather dust on our shelves. We refuse to enter His throne room in prayer, even though Jesus purchased that right for us with His precious blood. We refuse to give Him our whole hearts in worship, choosing instead to offer a sacrifice of half-hearted praise. For far too many of us dwelling with God with face-to-face nearness in heaven will feel like meeting a stranger for the first time.

Take some time today and "dwell" with God. Sit in His presence. Sing His praises. Read His Word and apply it to your life. Pray. Lift up your requests and listen to the leading of His Spirit. You will not regret time you spent with your Lord. 

For further reading, here are some passages you can "dwell" with God in today.

• Psalm 46- Be still and know that I am God.
• Ezekiel 37- The Valley of Dry Bones.
• Revelation 21- A glimpse of Heaven.