Building the House of God

   “Imagine yourself as a living house.  God comes in to rebuild that house.  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.” (C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity”, page 205)

   God desires to live within you; He wants you to invite Him in.  But beware, if God is to reside in you, there will be a lot of remodeling necessary.

   When my wife and I purchased our home there were upgrades and changes needed to make it ours. The kitchen was the biggest issue of all.  Finally I said, much to my wife’s delight, “I think we need to just gut it and start over.”  This is what God will do to make your living house His.

   The prejudices will have to be torn out; any hatred disposed of.  In the garden the weeds of earthly desires will need to be pulled up and replaced with the flowers of the spiritual.  The heart will be upgraded by a tremendous infusion of love for both God and neighbor.  No longer can you judge others, pointing out the splinter in another’s eye while ignoring the log in your own.  You must see Jesus in everyone.

   You may think God is turning your world upside down during this remodeling effort.  The truth is your world is already upside down; God is turning it right side up.  A new way of looking at the world and everything in it is required.  You will begin to see things through the eyes of faith; through the eyes of God.

   Changes will occur in daily life.  More prayer, less television; more kindness, less disregard for others.  Most importantly, love will become evident in everything you do.  Those who invite God to live within them evangelize not only in word, but by the way they live their life and the love they show to all.

   Remodeling can be painful, but it will result in a home that is worthy of God; a home in which He can achieve His will through you.  The rewards far outweigh the cost of the remodeling.  Eternal life waits for those who let God live in and through them.

Father I give this retched house to You.

Make of me a palace worthy of Your presence.

Come and live within me.

Amen