Exodus 39, 40

The tabernacle finished, the glory of the Lord filled it. The Israelites lived next to the place where God dwelt. They could see the pillar of fire and the cloud and know God was right there with them. When he moved, they  moved. When he stayed, they stayed. They couldn’t step out of their tents without the visible reminder of God’s Presence.

What an awesome privilege they had. But we have something even better.

We don’t have to look at a pillar of fire. For believers, we just have to look within ourselves. Yes there are times I wish I had that tangible presence I could look at to remind myself He is here. But Jesus promised never to leave or forsake us.

Israel couldn’t say that. God was in the tabernacle and if a Jew decided to pick up and move away, God would not have gone with him. God’s Presence was visible, but God had confined Himself to the tabernacle.

Since the cross, God can call us to go across the country or around the world and he will go with us. His dwelling place in no longer man-made, as beautiful as that tabernacle must have been. God’s dwelling place is in the hearts of believers and visible through our obedience. He is as real today as he was in the days of Moses.

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!