Moving on up

Okay, for many of you, the title evoked memories of a certain television program from 25 years ago and admittedly that's intentional because that song is bouncing around in my head right now. Scary right?

Here's why... this morning I was led to read from Isaiah and immediately, that song just popped into my head. Read it yourself...

Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)

For this is what the high and lofty One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.

My God, the hight and lofty One, he who lives forever, whose name is HOLY says that he lives in a high and holy place. Now that doesn't really surprise me because he is God and he should live in a high and holy place. No other place would really be suitable for Him. So in my mind, I see Him sitting on his throne surrounded by angels and saints and of course Jesus is right there, literally right. The place where he dwells is spectacular and defies description. The most elegant palace on earth is but a hovel next to God's throneroom. But! Rather than being an exclusive place, God says that he lives "also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit."

The God of the Universe, of all that was, is or shall be, opens his house to ANY who are contrite and not full of themselves! And by his own words he says that he does this, opens his home, to "revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."

This fills me with such joy that it is difficult for me to sit still long enough to type this out! Though I'll never, ever sleep in the Lincoln bedroom of the White House, though I'll never, ever be granted an audience before the queen, I WILL BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD! HE HAS A PLACE FOR ME IN HIS HOUSE. Joyful, joyful, I adore thee God of mercy, Lord of love!

There is a price of admission though and that has been fully paid by my brother, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Immanuel! All I have to do, all you have to do, all anyone has to do, is to pour out themselves, empty themselves of their foolish pride, admit their sinfulness, admit their need for the atoning blood of Christ Jesus and ask forgiveness. Be contrite and be lowly in spirit.

So for me, and I pray for you too, I'll keep pouring myself out daily doing my utmost to remain contrite before God and man, never allowing myself to be prideful or boastful except of what God has done. You see, I'm moving on up.... to a deluxe mansion in the sky.

In His Loving Grip,
Carl