Dwelling Promise

Exodus 25:8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.”
 
PROMISES, God fills his Bible with his promises. Other names for promises are “covenants” and “testaments”. God promises much to his people when he calls them from Egypt and speaks to them in the desert. Those promises are vital tools in his plan to give you the promise of faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s covenants are his life-spring that you may be born again in his salvation. God’s testaments are his assurance he will dwell with his own forever: John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 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.”
     Do you see God’s “dwelling promised” began in the exodus desert? He promises if Israel builds a sanctuary, “I will dwell among them.” Grasp the wonder of the promise. God will come from heaven’s glory to live among his people. Pause, my friend, and be in awe and wonder. The holy Creator, who has created the vast and impenetrable universe, promises to dwell among his very imperfect, grumbling, self-centered people!
     Yes, by his grace, God acts to love his own. But we must know that God’s dwelling promise has a stipulation. He will not dwell with unbelieving, disobedient people. In the desert, the Jews must specifically prepare a special place for God. They were to build a tabernacle (which means “dwelling” of “to dwell”) exactly as God empowers and commands them. God does his part. He gifts certain people, particularly Bezalel, to do the precise work. Bezalel, other craftsmen and the Israel community respond as God commands. God comes in his glory to be among his people.
      This is an inescapable foretaste of the Christ to come. Jesus came to dwell among us. He taught us more precisely of God’s commands. He demonstrated how to live into those commands. The Son of God chose certain people to have particular gifts to be kingdom builders. They would respond in faith to convey God’s dwelling promises to the world.
      God’s commands, his promises and his gifts still come to earth. Today, Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit. He comes to all God has chosen for the gift of salvation to dwell within you as you trust Jesus as your Savior. You are now God’s tabernacle, saved in Jesus Christ: Ephesians 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.  
     This is God’s plan and progression to complete his promises. The Father comes. The Son comes. The Spirit comes. In each age, particular people are gifted to build God’s kingdom, first physically and then spiritually. And it is all for his dwelling promise forevermore: Revelation 21:3-5 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
     Obey God’s commands. Prepare your heart to welcome the Spirit to dwell inside you. Spend time each day in the Bible. Know the truth to pray. Listen with your heart for the Spirit to teach you. Dwelling within you, the Spirit will fulfill God’s promise to be your God.  
 
LIFE Link: it is easy to trust your God when you believe and obey his dwelling promise.