When Obed-Edom had the Ark at his home, we are told that God blessed him and all he had and all in his household.
Obed-Edom provided a home for the Ark. King David wanted to build a great new temple for that spiritual treasure but God denied his desire, telling him his son, Solomon, would be the one to build the marvelous temple, but David could start compiling materials: silver and gold, gems, vessels and great artistic ornaments for the temple.
God told David that he couldn't build his God a temple-house, but that God Himself would build David a house - a dynasty that would eventually bless all nations.
And in His tender caring way God tell us that we too can build Him a temple, right in our own hearts. This has to be one of the most remarkable Christian doctrines: that Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, will actually enter our hearts, settle down and be at home there. Christ will live in any human heart that welcomes him.
So when Christ moves into our hearts we let Him settle down, feel comfortable, and
feel "at home" in us. And there are some things we get to do to make sure He is comfortable living in us. We can re-model, re-decorate, move furniture around. But there are some things we don't have the power to take care of.
I am re-reading again that quote from C. S. Lewis:
Dozens of people go to Him to be cured of some particular sin which they are ashamed of, or which is obviously spoiling daily life (like cowardice, bad temper, gossip, etc). He will cure it all right; but He will not stop there. That may be all you asked, but if once you call Him in, He will give you the full treatment.
He didn't come to change us into nice people, but new people. He is the painter and we are the painting. He is the inventor. We are only the invention. He knows what we can be and has given His Son to make our transformation possible. His goal for us is higher than we can imagine for ourselves.
You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage; but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.
The thought that the Sovereign Lord of the universe is within us is still as astonishing to me as it was when first I learned it. Or began to learn it, since I still haven't fully grasped it.
Anyway, as I go with Him through my heart-house and He observes how I live sometimes I am ashamed.
What about that Hall Closet? The one I keep closed unless I am, for sure, the only one at home. Because I don't want anyone to see what is in that closet. So I keep the door carefully closed (and locked) at all times.
It contained, not anything so awfully bad -- just some things left over from my life before I invited Him into my heart. Sometimes I justified leaving them there to remind me of what I used to be like! But they were things I didn't want anyone to know about.
One day, my omniscient Guest met me at the head of the stairs.
"What is that awful smell?"
He pointed to the closet door. "It seems to be coming from there. Is there something in there we need to clean out?"
I felt some anger. After all, I had given Him the Living Room, the Family Room, the Kitchen -- how much room did He have to take? It was only one small closet! I thought to myself, "I am not going to give Him the key. This is just too much!"
My omniscient Guest, since He knows all, heard my thoughts.
"OK," He said. "I will move outdoors to the back yard. I can't live in this house.
I can't stay near the things that are in that closet!"
I watched Him turn away from me to leave. He took one step on the stairway, and then I realized, I couldn't let Him go. All my joy and peace was leaving with Him. I loved Him so much I couldn't let Him walk out!
(When once you've experienced the presence of God in your life, you cannot live without Him.
That's exactly what Obed-Edom found out, too. He couldn't sit at his farm and watch the Ark--the symbolic presence of God--leave him. So he followed it all the way to
Jerusalem, and then stayed right near it, serving God and ministering to God's family.)
"All right," I said. "I will get You the key. But You will have to open it and clean it out for me. I don't have the strength."
"I know you haven't," He said. "Just give Me the key and authorize Me to handle that closet and I will take care of it for you."
I turned away and let Him take over. He removed all the putrefying, stinking stuff that was rotting there. He cleansed it with a strong antiseptic, painted it, and I was amazed to see that awful Hall Closet now sparkling and clean, with a fresh smell that brought genuine pleasure to me.
And I noticed that the new fragrance that wafted out of that closet was making its way all through the house.
Now I knew, no matter what sin and pain and regrets there might be in my past, Jesus is ready to forgive, to heal and make whole.
I am so thankful I gave Him the key to that closet and authorized Him to clean it out for me!
I hope you don't still have a room left like that.....
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