OUR TRUE DWELLING PLACE

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations – Psalm 90:1

Jamie Buckingham, while reflecting on his childhood homestead and his late father, had these to say:

“The removal of the house gave me a new perspective into the past. For the first time I was able to look backward beyond my parents, all the way to my true dwelling place – the dwelling place of God…

Bit by bit these things need to be taken away until we become like Jesus with no place to lay our heads. Foxes have holes, birds have nests, but the true man of God has no place to lay his head but on the bosom of the Father. Places – geographical places – are necessary for service. But not for security.

…Finally he closed his eyes again and said softly, “Son, never move away from the proven things of God for that which is mere speculation.”

…I was grateful for my dad’s wise counsel, but I knew – deep in my heart – that God was eager for me to reach the place where I did not have to turn to my earthly father but could turn directly to Him. He was bringing me to the place where I could walk directly into the courts of the Living God and say, “Father, what do You think of this?” and then receive His correction when He said, “Son, I have better things for you. This is the way. Walk ye in it.”

As meaningful as my dad and mom are to me, more meaningful are the tabernacles of God. Now I have no old homestead. I have my own home instead. Now I have no father; I am a father instead. All the things that were so precious to me are taken away so I can find my true place in life, my true security, which always lies in a house not made with hands.