Sermonette: Where you can seek God

Where is God? Surveys consistently show that while not everyone believes in God as portrayed in religion, the vast majority of people believe there is a divine being. So, since most of us agree that there is a supreme power, where is it? On a mountain? In the ocean? Within ourselves? Where can the supreme being be sought for requests, worship, knowledge or justice? I’m never sure who reads these things, but if you’re not a church goer, but you believe in a supreme power, where do you seek it? I’ll wait…

Having been raised in the church, I really don’t know how people outside the church answer that question. I don’t need to ponder it because I have passages like 1 Kings 8. In that chapter, as well as the corresponding chapter in Chronicles, Solomon dedicates his awesome temple. The temple itself was a marvel, as well as the thousands of sacrifices he made and the incredible event he had planned for the consecration. However, only his prayer at the dedication is preserved for us; and what a prayer it is. Solomon’s wisdom was on complete display that day.

Solomon reminds the listeners that God does not dwell in a building. No matter how beautiful or large or filled with gold and cedar, God does not live there. God is in heaven he says numerous times. Jews and Christians have gotten confused on this point many times, but Solomon, architect and builder of the original temple is crystal clear: God does not live in a building built by human hands.

However: Solomon does call on God to have his eye on the temple. Solomon calls and requests that when people recognize their sin and need forgiveness, if they seek it at the temple, that God will hear their prayer. If there is drought and the people pray to God from the temple, that God will hear it. If people make an oath by God at the temple, that God will hold them to it. God may not dwell in the temple, but Solomon requests that when people seek God at the temple, that God meet them there.

This is all well and good when there is a large stone building full of priests, incense, and an interior room filled with smoke from the presence of God. The twist in it is Paul tells us in 1 st Corinthians 3:16-17 that we are now the temple. I’m not the temple, you’re not the temple, and our church buildings certainly aren’t (mine’s actually a renovated office building) but we together are the temple. The gathering of believers is the replacement/upgrade of Solomon’s temple.

So, what does that mean? It means the answer to “Where can someone seek the divine being?” is “at the gathering of believers.” When people are convicted of their sin, where is the best place to seek forgiveness? The gathering of believers. When drought hits, where is the best place to pray for rain? The gathering of believers. When someone wants to make an oath before God (i.e. marriage), where is the best place? The gathering of believers. This is the truth for all of you out there who are seeking God, but as a pastor, I find it to be more of a spurring for the church to act accordingly. As a church, to walk and talk as though we are the middle ground and the best place to meet God. To be open and prepared for the hurting people who want to meet God and leave their sinfulness behind.

My challenge for us today is to rest in this truth. Seek God where he’s best found: in the gathering of the saints. And saints? Act like you’re the best place to seek God.