Whose house?

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Scripture

Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.
(Ezekiel 47:1 NASB)
He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.
(Ezekiel 47:2 NASB)
“By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
(Ezekiel 47:12 NASB)
“The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there.’”
(Ezekiel 48:35 NASB)
And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
(Luke 2:49 NASB)

 

Observation


We all have choices that we can make about life and about where we want to dwell and/or spend our time. A common theme runs through the Old and New Testament texts here regarding the house, for this is no ordinary house, but it is the house of God. Ezekiel's words are prophetic and become echoed in the final chapters of Revelation where we see the water coming from the Temple of God in which God has come down to earth to dwell with men. The waters represent the Holy Spirit who flows from the very throne of God, providing all the nourishment which is needed for life, for sustenance and for healing. The little boy Jesus understood all of this. He lived in the moment but he also lived in all of time and when he went to Jerusalem he was at home, for he was in his Father's house. He was instantly drawn to the comfort of knowing this was the dwelling place of his daddy -- and it foreshadowed the possibilities of what were to come for all of humanity.

 

Application


Just about a year ago we moved from our home in Indiana to Ohio. Our oldest daughter had been living in England. Little did we know how much this move would trouble her -- for no longer did she know where "home" was. She didn't know what "home" looked like, or whether there was a bedroom there that would be hers. Somehow she just needed to come and experience "home" and to know that this was her parents' home. A few months ago we brought her "home" so that she could see and experience this new place in which we were living. Her response was interesting. When she walked in the door she said she instantly felt at home -- because mom and dad's stuff was there. The familiar pictures were on the wall. Her bed was in the bedroom. Hanging out with dad and mom was like it normally was -- because it didn't matter WHERE the house was -- it mattered that it was dad and mom's house. That's what made it home.

We are all invited to come home to the Father's house. It is a place in which he will make us feel very comfortable -- where he will supply all of our needs -- and healing for all of our wounds. We ARE his children and as such, we are welcomed in his house. The problem is that many of us seem to think that we are too busy to come home and hang out with him. We seem content to live in a lost world with its accompanying sense of bewilderment when all the while home is waiting for us.

What are we missing out on when we're in the wrong home? The very waters which flow from the house of God -- the presence of God experienced in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit flows from the throne of God and empowers us to live our daily lives. The Holy Spirit brings us comfort in our time of trouble. The Holy Spirit brings healing to our hearts and souls and wounds which have been inflicted upon us from the world. All we have to do is go home -- and dwell in the Father's house.

 

Prayer


Lord, thank you for the promises and peace which come from your house. Amen.

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