** One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. ** Psalm 27:4
When we read the Old Testament, we understand that the nation of Israel went to the temple or tabernacle to worship or to get closer to God. We also know that David had a great desire to be there in the temple and in the presence of the LORD, his King and his Protector from his enemies.
But we, as followers of Jesus Christ and of the New Testament between God and man, have something even better than a physical building where we can go and worship. We also have God living inside of us. That may sound arrogant and elitist to some, but it is available to anyone who makes the decision to allow God to be in charge of his life.
Having the Creator of the Universe dwell in us by his Spirit, we can be in his presence anytime, anywhere without having to be in any one building designated for worship. Communal worship is necessary and amazing for God’s children but it is not the only way that we can connect with him.
We can wake up any morning knowing that God is already with us and in us. We can rejoice, pray, sing, praise, give thanks any hour of the day. Whether we are alone or in a crowd.
We can pray at all hours of the day or night about every and any little or great concern that is on our mind. Because God is right there at our side and at the same time inside of us so we never have to think that He is too far away to hear us.
Being able to do all of this at any moment, helps us to see him and his beauty and his holiness whenever we need to. He is constantly available to us, like when our truck was going to hit the lightpole that I wrote about the other day.
Or when we hold our grandchildren in our arms and our heart fills with thanks for their life, their innocence and their health.
He will never not be available. And He will always respond to us with love and mercy and kindness.
One day we will see him face to face and we will see him in all of his glory. But in the meantime, we can enjoy his constant, though invisible, presence and we can walk through each day with the best companion in the universe joining us every step of the way.