Saturday, January 27th, 2024.
It is a common thing for people to go to a church building to find God. It is far less common to understand that God does not dwell in a building.
You cannot find God in a church building any more than you can find William Shakespeare in your local library.
Your library may be able to tell you about the famous playwright and even show you books containing his words, but his flesh and bones are not there.
There might even be a Shakespeare fan club that meets in the library to discuss and celebrate the things he wrote, but the library does not somehow possess the spirit of Shakespeare.
God does not dwell in temples, synagogues, or church buildings (Acts 17:24). Yes, people in church buildings may be able to tell you about God and show you the Bible which contains His words, but God is not in the building.
God dwells in the church. The church is made of people, not bricks and wood (1 Cor 3:16). The people are his flesh and bones (Eph 5:30).
This mystery that Paul declares among the Gentiles is not Christ in a church building but “Christ in you” (Col 1:27).
Christians who know what is the fellowship of the mystery do not gather at a church building to find God but to see Christ formed in each other (Gal 4:19-20). Christians gather to be strengthened by a mutual faith (Rom 1:12).
When the people in whom God dwells leave the building, God is as present in that building as at the local McDonalds.
If you are looking for God, do not look for him in a building.
Read about where to find God in Scripture. You’ll learn he indwells those saved by God’s grace.
Better yet, trust the gospel of Christ and receive salvation along with the Spirit of God and become a member of the Body of Christ. Then God will dwell in you.
For Truth,
Justin “indwelt” Johnson