The Secret Dwelling Place

I remember once as a child, sitting in a room full of family members who were talking to one another. My father was sitting in a chair and I turned to look at him. He smiled and whispered the words, I love you. He motioned for me to come to him and when I did he placed me on his lap then hugged me. I felt secure, I felt loved. I had found the secret dwelling place.

The Lord gave us earthly parents to show us a tiny glimpse of what God’s love for us is. He loves us so much that he wants to spend time with us. Today Jesus is looking at us and whispering I love you, and motioning for us to come to him.

Is there a secret dwelling place? Can we hear from God the way we hear from our earthly father? Can we crawl into God’s lap, and feel secure? The answer is yes, but how do we get there and what do we have to do to find it?

David was considered a man after God’s own heart. David loved God more than he loved himself, his family, even his own life. David, writer of approximately half of the book of Psalms, in the Old Testament, in the Bible, shows us the first clue to finding the secret dwelling place. In Psalms 93 it states, “Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity...the Lord on high is mighty.” David knew who God was and he never questioned his authority. Step one is knowing God is God.

Moses gives us the second clue. Moses was told by God to lead the people Israel out of Egypt and lead them into the promised land. During their journey they stopped at Mt. Sinai. God told Moses to go to the top of the mountain and receive his instructions. In Exodus 33, the second book in the Bible, shows Moses spent time with and talked to God. More miraculously is that God talked back. Any relationship requires spending time with the other person to make it work. The only way that we can hear what God is saying is to spend time with him. God is always talking, but it’s up to us to listen. Step two is learning to listen.

When we spend quality time with someone we get to know their voice. Jesus knew his father well and shows us when he is in the desert being tempted by Satan, how important it is. In Matthew 4: 2-11, it states, “... the devil took him to a very high mountain...” and showed him the riches of the world and told Jesus, “ All this I will give you...if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God , and serve him only.” Jesus knew his father’s voice. When God spoke, Jesus not only listened, he obeyed. Each time we listen and obey, it becomes easier and easier to hear and know the voice of our Father. Step three is recognizing and obeying God’s voice.

The final clue is found in God himself. Through out scripture the stories of his love are endless. Take the story of Hannah in I Samuel 1. Hannah is crying her heart out to God because she doesn’t have a child and wants one badly. The Lord loved her so much, he granted that she have a child. Hannah’s child, Samuel, grew up to be one of the greatest prophets that Israel has ever known. Samuel was a gift of love. Not only to Hannah, but to Israel as well. The final step is learning how much God loves us.

Through David we see how important it is to acknowledge who God is and to accept the Lord’s authority in our lives. Through Moses we see the importance of spending time with and talking to God. Through Jesus we see that we have to recognize and obey our Father’s voice. Finally, through God, he shows us see how much he loves us. God is sovereign, but he’s also our Dad who wants to spend time with us. The Lord is always faithful. He will guide and direct us to show us the path we need to follow. If you follow the right path it’s guaranteed that you’ll find the secret dwelling place.

Part 2 - Tomorrow