SCRIPTURE: Psalm 15
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. [John 14:1-3]
God’s house is a figurative way of saying His presence, to live near to God, dear to God.
Jesus seems to direct us in a different direction to experiencing God’s house than David.
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? [Psalm 15:1]
David lists a variety of ways that we live a righteous life:
The one whose walk is blameless,
Who does what is righteous,
Who speaks the truth from their heart;
Whose tongue utters no slander,
Who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others;
Who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord;
Who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;
Who lends money to the poor without interest;
Who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. [Psalm 15:2-5]
How do you measure up to this checklist… I failed at the first one.
Does this mean that I won’t experience God’s presence, that I cannot be near and dear to God?
Jesus directs us to Himself.
He does measure up to this list, and He is welcomed into God’s presence as one near and dear to God because He is righteous.
But He does not god for Himself, He goes for us.
He opens the way for us to be restored to God, to be near and dear to Him.
If we trust Him, He will be our way to God, our hope for eternal life with Him.
You can try to earn your way into God’s presence, but you will fail.
Or you can be honest about your failure and inability, and put your trust in God and Jesus.
He came to open and prepare a way for us to get back to God.
Because of Jesus, we are once again near and dear to Him, and will dwell with Him forever.
Because of Jesus, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” [Psalm 23:6]
PRAYER:
Lord, I do not measure up, I know this full well. Help me to trust in You, and to know that in You, I will never be shaken!