Maintenance Required

The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. (Psalm 27:4-5)

The thing I seek most - could those words be said of you? Is the one thing you are seeking most the presence of God - living so close to him that separation from his presence is just not possible? To seek God in this manner doesn't mean our head is in the clouds all the time, so 'heavenly minded' that we are of no 'earthly good'. It means that we share a deep, lasting bond with Christ - so intense that we won't let anything get in the way of that bond. We guard our hearts and minds, by allowing the Holy Spirit to be our guide, and seek him actively in all we do.

To be concealed in his presence when troubles come is definitely a good thing, isn't it? We will face troubles, sometimes on all sides, but his presence with us gives us a peace that endures the struggles and outweighs any worries this world attempts to place upon our shoulders. Placed out of reach - safe in his care - this is our goal. How do we find this intimate connection with him? It begins in small, but faithful steps. We are obedient in the small stuff he asks of us - time with him, prayer, and time in his word. Then he adds some bigger stuff - letting go of bitterness, laying aside distractions, opening our hearts to the hurting. Each step brings us closer and closer to him - connection is established, but it also has to be maintained.

Maintenance is probably the hardest 'task' any homeowner has to accomplish. There is the continual influence of the weather, making yardwork necessary, peeling paint repairs unending, and gutter cleaning a continuous process. Critters find their way into small spaces, requiring us to seek out those entry points and seal them off once and for all. Cracks develop in the foundation, requiring us to seal them quickly in order to avoid more damage. All this maintenance leads to one thing - a safe, secure, and comfortable place to abide. Is it any different with our relationship with Jesus? We must 'maintain' our relationship with him, keeping a close eye out for any 'influence' that if ignored, would cause our 'abode' with him to be disturbed. 

Our sanctuary exists in his presence. It isn't a 'place' as much as it is a 'condition' of our heart. Focus on the heart, allowing him to change what doesn't belong there, and take those baby steps of obedience he calls for. Protect the 'condition' of your heart from decay - then you will enjoy the sanctuary of his presence for a long, long time. Just sayin!