Why and how God makes us more welcome even than a valued guest
February 11
By Dean Collins
Have you ever been a guest somewhere and wondered what it would take to live there?
Maybe you discover a beautiful place on a weekend getaway or a vacation trip. It might be the weather, the scenery, the particular condo or home that feels just right. On such occasions I often ask myself and sometimes ask my wife, “Wouldn’t it be great to live here?”
You may have had a similar experience, not just because of the beauty of the place, but even more the kindness and generosity of the host. Some truly do have the gift of hospitality. These wonderful people are attentive to make sure we are comfortable, well fed, and have just what we need. They seem to want to pamper us. When you are in an environment like that with a wonderful host, you want more than a visit. You really want to just move in and stay.
Two questions
I think of that kind of warm welcome when I read the two questions that open Psalm 15. The first question asks who has permission to visit awhile in God’s tent. And the second goes a step further by asking who can live on the holy mountain of God. During the exodus, Moses was instructed by God to build the tabernacle where God would be present and available to his children during their pilgrimage. The God of creation chose to come and stay in a manmade tent so his children would know of his presence and his love for them.
Eventually a more permanent temple was built on Mount Moriah. It was beautiful in appearance, and God filled the temple with his presence. You can imagine the joy the children of Israel had when they saw a permanent place for God to reside. The psalmist said, “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” (Psalm 27:4).
Good answers
Psalm 15 answers the two questions it raises. If you want to visit and if you want to live in the very presence of God, then follow these instructions.
1) Walk blamelessly, do what is right, and speak truth (v. 2).
2) Don’t slander or do any evil to your neighbors or believe it when others speak evil of your neighbors (v. 3).
3) Honor people because God loves them, not because of their title or their wealth or lack of wealth (v. 4).
4) Don’t take advantage of those around you. Especially the poor. Don’t make money off of their challenges, but rather be willing to help them (v. 5)
In other words, to come for a visit with God or to stay in his dwelling place requires that we take on the character of God. We know from the New Testament Scripture that this is possible only when we allow Jesus to transform us from the inside out. It is when we abide in Christ that he abides in us, and the result is that the fruit of our lives is in line with the character of God.
Temporary dwelling
When Peter, James, and John saw the transfiguration, they had that same kind of vacation feeling I described earlier. Being in the presence of Jesus and seeing him in his glorified state, they wanted to build a place to stay with him, but it wasn’t yet time. Our good God gave us the Holy Spirit so we would always have God present with us as we go through these transient days together on earth.
Just as God temporarily dwelled in a tent, we also now dwell temporarily in this tent of a human body. We are to live in a way that draws people to Jesus so that they may one day join us in the glory of our eternal home in the presence of our loving and always good Father in heaven.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 15:1-5; Matthew 17:1-8 ESV
Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash
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