The Tale of Two Houses

Have you ever walked into a home and been at total peace? What about that house made you at peace? Maybe it was that there wasn't any clutter, or there was an inviting smell, or the people who welcomed you in instantly put you at ease? What about that house made you pause and breath?

Have you ever walked in a home at made you ill-at ease? What was it that caused tension? Noise? Smell? Clutter? Confusion?

Imagine with me for a moment two houses side by side. This time our focus isn't so much on what the homes look like, but on what it's inhabitants experience. 

Those who live in one home experience tension, confusion, guilt, shame, addiction, pain, a lack of love and peace, violence, and death. There is a range of depths that the inhabitants experience these things. It could be that they experience mild tension and confusion and violence, all the way to a deeply intense tension, confusion, and violence. Ultimately though, they are experienced. 

The other home is quite different. The second home is one of order, peace, love, affection, fulfillment, clarity, lightness, completeness, joy, calmness, understanding, freedom, and life. I love gardens, and I imagine that this home has a beautiful indoor greenhouse with a little stream, lots of green things, and most wonderful smells. In this home the inhabitants are free to leave, but have no desire to do so.

I know which home I want to live in!!! There's just no question. Not even a moment's hesitation. Seriously. I was reading in the Bible this morning, in Romans, about slavery. Slavery isn't a physical thing I experience, or have ever experienced. According to things I've read still exists today for millions around the world (and I can hardly bear the thought and fall on my knees every time I hear about it). But it isn't something I've experienced, physically. But that isn't what Paul was referring to. He was referring to a spiritual condition. Paul says that we are slaves, either to sin, or to righteousness. We are slaves to God, or to ourselves, and by default to our mortal enemy (Romans 6-7).  When we allow sin to rule in us, to be our slave master, the natural consequences are living in the first home I described. Tension, confusion, guilt, shame, etc. We experience the torment of a slave master with no mercy, no grace. We get beaten down, and are a slave to our own lusts. We can experience this even though we have confessed Christ as Lord. Pause and reflect on a time you've experienced this.

On the other hand, those who's slave master is Christ the Lord experience quite the opposite. I've not known a gentler, kinder, more patient master. who's love knows no end. Those who work and serve in His house are free to leave at any time and experience everything described in the second house, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances. Yet those who truly are His, would never dream of leaving. They experience a life that not many find. Life, love, fulfillment to a depth many only dream of. 

Christy Nockels wrote a song and I love the picture it gives:

So, how does one move from one house to the other? Faith. Belief. Belief in Jesus. Seek Jesus. He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me." (John 14:6)

Jesus tells us through the prophet Jeremiah, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Jesus tells us through Paul, "For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves." (Colossians 1:13)

Kingdom. Gods's Kingdom. His house is a house of great peace, deep joy, and overwhelming love.

The tale of two houses, two kingdoms. Where are you living? In which home are you serving? Which master are you serving? 

Here is a beautiful post giving context to some of the Bible's passages about being bond slave.

Words: Jesus' inviting words

John 1:35-39

"The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, 'Look, the lamb of God!' 

When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, 'What do you want?' 

They said, 'Rabbi' (which means Teacher), 'Where are you staying?' 'Come,' he replied, 'and you will see.'" 

First, a declaration by John the Baptist. John, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, carrying out the good works God had prepared for him to do (Eph 2). John who spent his days declaring that the kingdom of God was near, and that the Messiah would soon enter on to the scene. His life was a pouring out of himself as he lifted high the name of God, as he lifted high and exalted the kingdom of God in the face of religious hypocrite, and in the face of those who were sheep without a shepherd. The heavenly anger, and compassion, he must have felt. And to declare..."Look! The lamb of God!" The Messiah! Jesus! His disciples went. They left John. They went to follow, to seek. They declared intention as they asked where he was staying. Jesus simply replied, "Come." This simple conversation. These simple words. This is where it is at.

"Jesus! Where are you? Where are you going? What are you doing?" These are simple questions. Sometimes we seek because we are hungry and thirsty for more than this life has to offer. Sometimes we ask because we are hurt and we want more. Sometimes we ask because we are motivated out of love and we want to walk in obedience.

Sometimes we ask and then we stop listening. Sometimes we ask and we don't like what we hear.

Jesus always responds..."Come, and you will see." He gets our attention. He asks us to continue listening. He invites us to join Him. So, are you listening as someone standing on the outside of the crowd? Are you listening for the moments that interest you? Are you listening and not participating? Or are you listening intently at His feet, with your shoes on, ready to move when He moves? These words are simple, and invite us to come along.