"But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?"
2 Chronicles 6:18
A father was explaining to his seven year-old son about the death of his grandmother. He said, "Your grandmother has gone to live with God." The son told his dad how much he would miss her. Then he paused before saying to his dad, "It would be good, if God could come and live with us now." His dad smiled and said, "God wants to come and live with each one of us now. He wants to live in our hearts."
Solomon asked the question in our verse for today. He led the people to build the temple, the house of God. There in the place known as the Holy of Holies, God's shekinah presence was manifest. God lived among the people of Israel. Centuries later, God came to dwell among us in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). Through the Holy Spirit, God desires to live in the hearts of all people. When we invite Christ into our lives, His presence becomes real to us through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God makes Himself known within us through the gifts of faith, hope and love (1 Cor. 13:13).
Do you know the presence of the Lord in your life? He comes at our invitation. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in . . ." (Rev.3:20). Someone may say, "That's just too simple. There has to be more to it than that." I would say to that person, "Why should He make it complicated? He made it simple for all to understand." Sometime a child finds it easier to invite the Lord to come into his or her life. Could it be because a child simply responds? God wants to live with us, even in our hearts.
Lord, come into my life with Your faith, hope and love. Live in me now and forever in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
