YOU CAN HAVE A "BETHEL" IF YOU WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS!

"The character of a man's step is often an index to the state of his soul." - Biblical Illustrator

"God will dwell with those that prepare Him a habitation." - Matthew Henry

"Though we are at all times in His presence, His house is the place in which we entreat Him to manifest Himself to His congregated people. Yet, though we know that - the place and the purpose of our frequenting it are of the most holy and solemn nature, it is only by a strong effort that we can maintain the frame of mind we should be in when we wait upon God in His house. It is only by resolutely determining so to do that we can control our wandering thoughts, suppress frivolous and sinful imaginations, and divest ourselves of the secular cares and anxieties which occupy only too much of our attention in the world outside the sanctuary." - Pulpit Commentary

Oh, how wonderful to read in the Bible of times when God came down and took possession of the "meeting place" prepared for Him by His people.

In Exodus 40:34-35, we read - "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."

In 2 Chronicles 5:13, we read - "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God."

When was the last time that your church or place of worship was filled with a "cloud" or the glory of the Lord...when He came down and literally took possession of the place?

Actually, Isaiah 4:5 gives us a picture of what the Latter-Day Church should look like when it says - "And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defense."

Now only does this promise hold true for the place of worship but it applies to the home of every Christian as well.

In these Last Days - "perilous times" that they are - we are going to need the protection of the "cloud" of God's Presence in our homes and in our sanctuaries. The "cloud" and the "fire" have always been symbols of His Presence and Protection. And we will need them - most assuredly - to be manifested and remarkable in our midst - not only for our sakes but also for the sake of our enemies who seek to destroy us.

Why is it that you can visit many churches and never sense the Presence of Jesus ever - let alone see the "glory cloud" hovering over it?

We believe that the answer to this question can be found in the first part of Ecclesiastes 5:1 which says - "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God..." In this verse, there is an allusion to the "putting off" of the shoes or sandals by both Moses (Exodus 3:5) and Joshua (Joshua 5:15) when they found themselves standing on "holy ground." It also has reference to Exodus 30:19-20 which says - "For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat; When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation..." The Jews had an apparatus called a "scraper" that was an iron fixed in the wall. With this, they cleaned their shoes before they went into the synagogue.

All of these practices were meant to denote the importance of the purity and cleanness of the true worshipper before entering the place of worship. The feet - the instruments of walking through this world - symbolized the conduct and behavior of the saint in the house of God.

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God..."

In other words, the worshipper was to examine the state of his heart and the condition of his walk before entering the place of public worship.

He was to ask himself - "Do I really mean to worship God this hour? What is the state of my mind and thoughts? Are they centered on divine and spiritual things rather than the world and its matters? Are they composed and quiet and is my mind attentive to what is said or done? Are my thoughts and affections focused on God and His glory or are they roving, wandering, and thoughtless...running after the wrong objects?"

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God..."

"What kind of pace am I taking in entering the place of worship? Is it a slow, reluctant, passive motion of one who is unwilling to draw near to God or is it a quick, in haste, earnest, fervent, and zealous one - full of anticipation and great expectation at to what God is about to do?"

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God..."

So many enter the "house of God" without the realization of what they are actually doing and Who they are going to meet - the High and Holy One. They come with a rude irreverence or lack of the feeling of awe. Oftentimes, they are filled with an inattention - a lack of true interest or spirituality. They forget Whose House they are entering and Whose Presence will fill the place when the worship begins.

Look at what happened to Jacob in Genesis 28:17 when He came face-to-face with the Presence of Almighty God - "And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

Would to God that all true worshippers of today would see the "house of God' in this same way as Jacob did! God would surely come down in our midst more frequently - perhaps even abide with us - if we would only enter His house with reverence and awe of His Divine Presence - if we would take the time to "prepare" ourselves for His "visitation" - or better yet - "habitation."

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God..."

What would happen if every believer would take the time to "put off his shoes" or any traces of his "old man" before entering the place of worship? What kind of visitation could be expected if he would "wash his feet" - ask for the Blood of Jesus to wash and cleanse his heart of any and all thoughts or imaginations that are contrary to the character of Jesus? "How dreadful" would the place become - filled with the Presence of Jesus - if every worshipper came in haste and expectancy - having one goal or aim in mind - that is, to meet with God - not seeking His "hand" but only His "face"?

"It is only by resolutely determining so to do that we can control our wandering thoughts, suppress frivolous and sinful imaginations, and divest ourselves of the secular cares and anxieties which occupy only too much of our attention in the world outside the sanctuary."

We can experience God as Jacob did! Our places of worship can be transformed into a "Bethel" or "house of God" - a "dreadful place" - because of the "glory" that will fill it.

It will happen when we prepare the "habitation" for Him.

"God will dwell with those that prepare Him a habitation."

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God..."

Will you do this?

Remember - the "glory" will then become a "defense" for you and your children.

We desperately need this in these Last Days!

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

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