The House of the Lord
'...and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever' - Psalms 23:6
What?
It is the place where God
- is found
- rests
(Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.)
- returns to
(John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.)
- is most comfortable
- is happiest
- entertains
(Revelation 19:9 - And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.)
- keeps his most valued possessions
(Matthew 6:20 - But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:)
- keeps his family
(John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.)
Where?
It is the place where God
- wants to live
- thinks is the most beautiful
(1 Corinthians 2:9 - But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.)
- is closest to His friends, loved ones
(Revelation 7:9 - After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;)
- is not far from the things He is involved
(Matthew 28:20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.)
Who?
Is the place where
- His angels live
(Revelation 5:11 - And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;)
- His cherubim live
(Hebrews 9:5 - And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.)
- His seraphim live
(Isaiah 6:2 - Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.)
- His winged beasts live
(Revelation 4:8 - And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.)
- His children live
(John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.)
- patriarchs
(Revelation 7:11 - And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,)
- prophets
- disciples
- apostles
- saints
How?
You get there by
- hearing the gospel
(Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.)
- choosing the narrow way
- choosing the strait gate
(Matthew 7:14 - Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.)
- accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior
(Romans 10:9,10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.)
- becoming a child
(Matthew 18:3 - And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.)
- trusting
(Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.)
- believing
(Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.)
- loving
(Matthew 22:37 - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.)
When?
You can go there
- when you die
(2 Corinthians 5:8 - We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.)
- when Jesus returns
(John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.)
- and stay FOREVER
(John 3:15 - That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Revelation 3:12 - Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.)