Here’s a question. Why would the God who is everywhere seek to live in one particular location? God told Moses to build a tabernacle because He wanted to live with His people, up close and personal. He wanted to be their resident Yahweh. Not some distant God who had no relevance. Not some abstract concept or principle. No, God is always wanting to be Immanuel-“God with us.” No matter who stood against Israel-whether it was the Ammonites, Assyrians, or Moabites-the presence of the one true God was with the Jews. And because God was for them and not against them, Israel would be successful in defeating her enemies.
The ultimate aim of the Christian life is to cultivate a constant awareness of God’s presence in our lives. That’s the goal of all the spiritual disciplines, from fasting to journaling, from meditation to prayer.
Why is God’s presence so significant? If we truly understood that God is before us, behind us, and beside us, there’s no room for sin. There’s no room for anything that separates us from intimacy with the Savior. The beautiful thing about living in the new covenant is that all of us have VIP access into the holy of holies. No one is too sinful. No one is too flawed. In fact, you are His tabernacle. The God who is everywhere lives in you!