Home of the Soul

June 19, 1992

Psalm 84:5-7

Last week I saw the E.N.C. graduation ceremony on the local cable TV. One feature that I hadn't really noticed in the actual ceremony— perhaps because I was very cold, or perhaps because of other stimuli— was the chirping of the birds that apparently live under the portico roof in front of Gardner Hall. From our perspective they were insignificant or a minor nuisance. From their perspective, perhaps, we were uninvited guests on the front doorstep of their home.

The Psalmist paints us a word picture— of small and insignificant birds who make their home in the very center of the Temple area. [Maybe he had just come from the Temple area, and had noticed how the sparrows had made themselves at home.] He contrasted and compared how much the birds seemed to be at home with the deep longing that he felt in his own heart to truly be "at peace" with himself and with his God.

[Even to his dying day David wished that he could have done more— he was ambitious to build the Temple itself— where the tabernacle was now standing— the sacred place on Moriah where Solomon would finally erect the temple that was to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.]

Mankind is different from all other creatures. We have longings that go so deep that we don't always know what the longings are for. Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, it takes a long time, usually, to find out what really will satisfy the deepest longings of the soul.

I. THE HOME OF THE SOUL IS NOT A 'PLACE' OR A 'THING'

THINGS OF THEMSELVES CAN NOT SATISFY
Intellectually, perhaps, we Christians believe this. But I wonder if we do ever accept it! The old question asked of rich people— "How much money is enough?" is just about always answered: "Just a little MORE!" [Illustration: Robert Coles, eminent Harvard teacher, was "converted" as a spin-off of a study he was doing during the civil right struggle in Louisiana) at least partly because of the witness of a six-year-old little girl named Ruby Bridges.]
Coles has said that his studies have increasingly shown that poor Christians, even at the poverty level- are consistently happier, better adjusted and more fulfilled as people than are rich unbelievers! I may be over-simplifying his summaries, but the gist is there:
"Among the poor he had expected defeat and despair; he found some- but he also found strength and hope and courage. Among the rich he expected satisfaction; instead he found boredom, and alienation, and decadence..." The religion of Jesus Christ— salvation I prefer to call it- - is NOT the "opiate of the masses" as the early Communist leaders were quick to label it; (Marx said it; Lenin and Stalin believed it.) It is not the tool of the get-rich or get-well middle classes, either— but it is a life-motivating, life-changing, life-lifting Reason for living in and of itself!
BUT THINGS ARE NOT UN-IMPORTANT, EITHER; FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A REAL KINGDOM!
After all, the world we live in is a beautiful world. We need to keep our "worlds" straight when we quote "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." For another verse says, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (to save it.)" This world of creation reflects God's majesty and His glory; the world of people and relationships often reflects the image of God in care and concern. We would have to be dead not to see beauty in the lochs and braes, the Everglades, the heavens— the wonders of this world.
But often when the heart gets hungry for home, or for a beautiful scene remembered, it is not just for that place or that time you long... but it is because your heart was made by the same Hand that made the scene remembered! Perhaps you are not aching and longing for Scotland, but you are homesick for God!

II. THE HOME OF THE SOUL IS BEING 'RIGHT' WITH GOD

"Happiness" is (1) being "at home" with God in some deepening reality; and (2) finding strength for the day in God Himself (4,5)
Blessed (happy) are they that dwell in Thy house: ... Blessed (happy) is the man, the woman, whose strength is in Thee (Psalm 84:4,5)
We say, "IF ONLY circumstances were different!" or, "If people would just LET ME DO WHAT IS RIGHT!" But we need to see that: Circumstances and people can not really short-circuit this being at home with God:
Elizabeth O'Conner is quoted by Bob Benson, from her book Journey Inward, Journey Outward:
Each of us is the artist of his own life. The materials we are given to work with, the conditions we work under and what happens to us, are part of the drama of what we shall do with our lives. But the materials and conditions and events are not in themselves the determining factors. Whether a man arrives or does not arrive at his own destiny- the place that is peculiarly his- depends on whether or not he finds the kingdom within and hears the call to wholeness- or holiness, as another might say. The man who hears that call is chosen. He does not have to scramble for a place in the scheme of things. He knows that there is a place which is his and that he can live close to the One who will show it to him. Life becomes his vocation.
Let us close these thoughts by speaking a bit about 'the "How to" of being at home:' [if I may without being presumptive:] The writer of Hebrews said "Here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come" (Hebrews 31:14.) So we must somehow be "at home" with God while we are on the way to His House. We must dwell in the house of the Lord while we are still pilgrims. Does this sound paradoxical? How can this be?
Paul writes (in Ephesians 3:17-21) "(May) Christ dwell in your hearts by faith"- let Jesus be at home in YOUR heart! These two thoughts go together: We are "at home" in God when we make Jesus "at home" in us! Does that make sense?
HOW MAY WE SPEAK OF MAKING JESUS 'AT HOME?'
1. This is mystery! JESUS CHRIST CAN INDWELL US! How can Jesus indwell us, even as He indwells the Word, and even as He became flesh and dwelt among us? These are areas of wonder, where the Infinite makes contact with the finite!
  A born-again child of God is a miracle on the same line or order as the great miracles of God!
  "But when He saved my soul/cleansed and made me whole/ it was a miracle of grace!"
2. But there are PRACTICAL WAYS WE CAN LET THIS MIRACLE HAPPEN WHERE WE ARE:
  1. If Jesus is "at home" in us— and we in Him, it is because WE HAVE INVITED HIM TO OUR PLACE! It could be just as simple as that: Have YOU asked Jesus in to live in your heart, like a little child might ask?
  2. Then, to, WE OPEN OUR LIVES TO JESUS, MAKING HIM LIKE "FAMILY": There are no secrets from Him— nothing we will not discuss freely with Him— no unshared subjects!
  3. Finally, WE LET JESUS DO HIS WORK IN US! If we will let Him- give Him free rein, we will find that Jesus has an agenda! HE has work He needs to do in us if He is to remain "at home." I must see that He has the chance to work!
3. If we will invite Jesus in, and keep no secrets, and ask Him to do with us whatever He will— we will experience A GROWING SENSE OF THE REALITY OF CHRIST!
  This world is real! But the eternal world is even more real! And we will understand the SECURITY, the PERMANENCE of this relationship! All other joys grow and fade again... all other relationships come to an end as we now understand them. But this love, this being "at home" with Jesus will NEVER end in disappointment!

Conclusion:

Probably the Psalmist was at a low point when he identified with the small and insignificant birds who make their home in the very center of the Temple area. But he was expressing a confidence in this Psalm that the deep longing that he felt in his own heart to truly be "at peace" with himself and with his God would not be overlooked by the God he loved. And David's greater Son picked up on that very theme when He said, in Matthew and Luke that God the Father sees even when a sparrow falls to the ground, but you and I are worth much more than many sparrows! (Matthew 10 = 2 sparrows for a farthing; Luke (bargain day) 5 sparrows for 2 farthings!) From Matthew:

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing- a half- penny!-?? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows! Matthew 10:29-31

If little birds can be at home in the Temple, David reasoned, then I guess that I can take God at His word and make my home IN HIM!

Are YOU "at home" in God? Is Jesus "at home" in YOU?

Have you invited Jesus into your heart? Is He "at home " there?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Make us truly "at home" in You tonight! Amen.

276 "Have Thine Own Way, Lord!"