Covenant Contrasts Part 12
In the Old Testament, God dwelled in “holy” places. And these holy places were very specific geographic locations. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush where He told Moses, “You are standing on holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). During the exodus from Egypt, God instructed the Israelites to “construct a sanctuary [tabernacle] for Me, that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8).
Later, after Israel possessed the promised land, King Solomon built a temple dedicated to the Lord. Here God dwelled in the Holy of Holies inside the Holy Temple in the Holy City of Jerusalem in what became known as the Holy Land. Do you see the pattern? God dwelled AMONG His people in holy places.
Under the new covenant, God still dwells in holy places. And that holy place today is in you and me! “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (John 14:20). God lives in you!
How do we qualify as a holy place? God Himself has qualified us through the death of Jesus. “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints … having reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Colossians 1:12, 22).
Or said another way, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7). We have this treasure, Jesus, living inside our earth-suit. We are not deity. But we contain the Deity! There is no arrogance in that understanding, only gratitude.
In contrast to the old covenant, God no longer dwells just AMONG His people. He now lives IN His people!