Don’t you love a new house? There’s just something enticing about taking over an empty space and making it yours. Pictures on the walls placed just so. Comfy furniture where you can relax and unwind after a long day of busyness. Space to play, or read, or just do nothing but stare at the ceiling happy as a bug in a rug because the house is yours.
And yet…over time, we tend to lose that initial joy. Clutter builds up, appliances break, the paint starts peeling and before you know it, the house we once loved has become a chore, something to tolerate instead of enjoy, or something we put up with because, well, it’s ours.
Is God happy with His living space?
When we first became Christ followers everything was new. We tried to follow His laws, devoured the Bible, and tried to do everything we could to make Him happy. But over time, the newness wears off, and before we know it we’ve cluttered up our life with worldly behaviors or beliefs. Or neglected to spend time in prayer and Bible reading, instead relying on five minute devotionals like a junkie looking for a quick fix. Our lives break and instead of applying the Gospel we turn to the world and invite every homeless remedy and passing fad to come in and take up residence.
We forget that God lives in us.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives?…”
Is God happy with His living space? Is there room for Him to stretch out and take a nap? Can He play in the yard or read a book without worrying that a pile of trash tucked behind the chair isn’t going to fall on Him? Does He have to fight for our attention because we are so caught up with worldly ambitions or attitudes that we can no longer find Him in our lives?
Really, it’s a question that every Christian needs to ask themselves. The answer is crucial to our future with God, because if our lives are so full of the world that we push God out then can we truly call ourselves Christ followers?
So…is God happy with His living space?