Where is God's house?

Before I became a Christian I was a strong Buddhist. The Buddhist temple to me was where I thought God could be found.

After becoming a believer I realized that I am the the temple of God not some physical temple! How mind-transforming is that!

Heb 3:6 "But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God's entire house. And we are God's house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ"

That means God does not dwell in a physical temple but He dwells in me - a spiritual being. And this verse means that Jesus is in charge of me! If he is in charge what is there to fear?

I don't need to go to a smoky place, worship idols/statutes (like I used to do), jostle with people to put joss sticks in the urns/offer flowers to the idols...I just need to quiet myself down and pray.....immediately I will be in God's house!

There are many blessings being in God's house:

1. Blessings of hearing God's voice

Gen 35:15 - Jacob named the place where God had spoken to him Bethel which means "house of God" because God had spoken to him there.

I didn't experience it while praying to idols. They cannot speak or reply me. I used to get angry with them for not answering my prayers!

2. Blessings of spiritual food & drink

Ps 36:8 - "You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights". Just as the physical body needs food and water to live, our spirit can only be satisfied with spiritual food (God's word) and spiritual drink (anointing of the Holy Spirit).

As a Buddhist I don't get fed....more likely fed with frustration & confusion.

3. Blessings of God's unfailing love

Ps 52:8 "But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God's unfailing love"

"Unfailing love" is a concept foreign to me when I was a Buddhist cos Buddhism teaches about good actions & deeds failing which judgment & retribution will follow. To be a Christian is to enjoy the most wonderful love on earth: not the love of man, not the love of people, not the love of our children but the incredible unfailing love of God.

4. Blessings of true friends

Ps 55:14 "What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God". True friends will stand by you through thick & thin. I found them when I became a believer

5. Blessings of true joy

There is temporary happiness & joy. I feel happy when I get a fat bonus or a salary increment. I feel happy when I am overseas on a holiday. I feel happy eating crabs with my hands at Hau Kee. I feel happy when I hug my daughter.

But there is a joy which is permanent & it can only be found in God's house. It is a joy that bubbles like a spring of water deep within my heart even when I am being scolded by my boss or bullied by my clerks or criticised by my Division Head/CEO or nagged by my husband or evil things spoken about me by others.....

Ps 84:4 "What joy for those who can live in your house always singing your praises"

6. Blessings of humility

Ps 84:10 "...I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the house of my God"

7. Blessings of honesty & integrity

Ps 101:7 "I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house and liars will not stay in my presence"

8. Blessings of receiving truths from the word of God

Isa 2:3 "People from many nations will come and say "Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the house of Jacob's God. There he will teach us his ways, and we walk in his paths...."

9. Blessings of unselfish prayers

Isa 56:7 "I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy iin my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations"

When I was a Buddhist my prayers were centered on me, my, myself and the 4 Cs - cash, condo, credit card, car! I hardly pray for others let alone pray for the world. Now as a believer I am praying unselfishly for others even for nations!

THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME YOUR TEMPLE & YOUR HOME!