I just submitted the following devotional article for our church newsletter:
The House of God
Many years ago, Jacob embarked on a journey to find for himself a wife from among his own people. After a long day of travelling Jacob was forced to rest for the night in an unknown, unremarkable place somewhere between Beersheba and Haran. But, next morning, Jacob declares, “How awesome is this place!” Why? During the night he was gripped by a dream. He saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder that reached into heaven. God stood at the top, declaring great promises over Jacob (see Genesis 28:10-17).
The environment in which Jacob stayed remained the same throughout this experience - an uncomfortable place, with just a stone for a pillow. But, the dream opened his eyes to the glorious presence of God. He confessed, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it”, and realised that that place was “the house of God” and “the gate of heaven”.
Many years later, Jesus referred to Jacob’s dream and applied him to himself (John 1:51). He told Nathaniel, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” What is Jesus saying about himself? This is what I think he means: Wherever the presence of Jesus goes, that place is an awesome place! Some may not know it, or see it, or believe it, but the Lord is in that place.
This has great relevance for us as a church. Wherever the church meets—where two or three (or three hundred) gather in the name of Jesus—the presence of Jesus is there also (Mat. 18:20). Christians are people who meet in ordinary, unremarkable places but know that Jesus is present with them. So, they declare “how awesome is this place!” Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the church is “the house of God” and “the gate of heaven.”
The church is a gathering of people who know by faith that “the LORD is in this place”. But, do we really know it?
