A House Where God Lives

Advent IV

December 22, 1996

Romans 16:25b-26a "...the mystery that was kept secret... is now disclosed"

Today, on this final Sunday of Advent, the story we remember is about Mary, the mother of Jesus. But strangely enough, our scripture lessons begin the story with a conversation between God and David, seven or eight hundred years before Mary was born.

David, as we all remember, began his working life as a shepherd boy, and he became the greatest king Israel ever had- maybe for a short time the greatest king in the world. In his mature years David sat in his beautiful palace and began to wonder what he could do for God. He decided to build a great palace, a temple for God.

When he told Nathan, his spiritual adviser, the prophet was delighted. Nathan is impressed. He says, in effect, "Go for it!" But later, that very night during devotions, God spoke to Nathan: "You didn't bother to ask me about this." And then God said, "I have a question for David:

"Are YOU the one to build a house for ME to live in?"

Then God, through his prophet Nathan, went on to tell David:

"I brought you from the pasture to this palace. I am the one who has built YOUR house.' Where do you think I really want to live?"

Just where DOES God live? Where IS God's house?

When that temple finally WAS built, (whether or not it was God's best choice,) at the dedication Solomon said these words: (2 Chronicles 6:18)

"But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!"

The church building is called 'the house of God.' Mighty cathedrals and humble chapels are dedicated or consecrated to the worship of God, and we call them houses of worship, or houses of God. They are special, and they ought to be. But God does not "dwell" in them. I often come here to this room to pray. It is a sacred, special place. I have come to this altar publicly— I have come here privately many times with others in special times of need, and probably so have you. We need special places— but God does not "live" here— and God can and does meet us whenever and wherever we pray.

Think again of Solomon's question, "But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? " Solomon obviously saw this as a rhetorical question with the obvious answer as "No!" Solomon knew God wouldn't "live" in a building— but also Solomon never had the concept that God wanted to permanently "live" or "dwell" with or in the company of men and women. God is too great, too majestic. The temple was a focal point for worship of God. Beyond that is mystery.

And then suddenly we come to the story of Mary. We come to the story of a teen age Jewish girl in an obscure backwater village in a tiny middle eastern country. From talk of cathedrals and lavish buildings and houses of worship, we abruptly enter the tiny private world of a devout but very young woman, going about her business only to be startled by the shining presence of an archangel of God Almighty!

And we know that lovely story. God who fills the universe and cannot be confined to cathedrals comes to earth to be born of a maiden. The scripture tells us that all generations will rise up to honor Christ's mother.

The Mother of Jesus

Luke gives us enough of the story to let us know that Mary was not simply a passive recipient of God's revelation as to the great purpose of her life. When she was greeted by the majestic archangel the scripture says she was "perplexed." Any one of us would be. Mary may have been startled, but she was not struck dumb. She questioned. She probed. She was not stubborn, but she needed to know. Maybe the angel has got the wrong Mary?!? But then Mary trusted. She gladly accepts God's best will for her life, and she never looked back.

Misunderstanding, joy, pain, and peace all mingled together in the working out of Mary's story. We know a little bit about her pain. But when we think of Mary we remember her song of praise, the Magnificat, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!" So it came to be that Mary gave God a place to dwell.

We have here the makings of a great mystery story. As a matter of fact it is THE greatest mystery story of all time! It is the story of a God who is looking for a place to live. A God who is so big that he exists beyond the light years we can grasp as what seem to us infinite space and time of our cosmos, and yet so loving and so intimate that in his fullness he comes to be knit together, fearfully and wonderfully made just as you and I were once knit together in our mothers' wombs, God Almighty seeking the womb of a virgin to be born as a Baby so He can live with us! If you can believe that, — not understand it— but believe it— you are coming very close to the wonder of Christmas! [But that is not the final end of it. ]

Our text says that a mystery, THE mystery that was kept secret for long ages, is now disclosed . . . that is . . . the God of the Universe wants to live in human hearts!

In Ephesians Paul speaks about this mystery—(3:17) "...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith . . . that you being rooted and grounded in love may know ... this love of God which surpasses knowledge." The mystery now disclosed in the Christmas story is that through the Gospel the God of the Universe is also Emmanuel - God with Us! Jews and Gentiles alike, WE are to BE the dwellingplace of God on earth!

The closing paragraphs of the Bible give this dramatic statement:(Revelation 21:3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

So, where does the story of Mary intersect with you and me? How does the idea of God living in our Body "connect"? We know the beautiful carol, "O Holy Child of Bethlehem .. descend on US we pray. Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today!"

How will we respond as God says this morning, "I want to be born in YOU today!"?? Probably, like Mary, the circumstances seem all wrong just now for the unfolding of God's presence in our lives. We might say, " I'm too entangled with responsibilities; I have too much of my own problems just now, Lord.

"Besides, there isn't a lot of room in my life for anything else. I'm too crowded in here already.

"Come back later, God, when I've worked a few things out, and I'll put you on the agenda. You must have the wrong person. At least it is the wrong time!"

Then we hear that conversation again: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you."

God says, "I am God, and you are not! Don't get all caught up in the circumstances. I have chosen you. I have chosen this time. I have chosen these circumstances, and I will deal with them. Let go."

Each day God calls out to us. This morning, God calls out to us. God wants to make us children of the Most High. Mary shows us the way to welcome Jesus into our lives. Probe God, ask questions, offer objections, but *listen.* God will provide a way. God has a plan for your life. You can trust the One who has always loved you.

"I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

Amen.

Thank God for this sanctuary, this building. But God is looking for a home in YOU!

PRAYER (contemporary language)

Purify our hearts and clarify our spiritual understanding, Almighty God, by your faithful Holy Spirit's revelation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.