moving vans

Whenever you are driving through your neighborhood and you spot moving vans it catches your attention and you begin to think.  Are existing neighbors moving out?  Are new folks moving in?  Where are they going to or where are they coming from?  All their earthly furnishings are visible at some point as they are carted one direction or the other from van to house or house to van.  For the new people moving in you wonder about the family and how they will blend with the neighborhood and how you might get to know them.  In our neighborhood we have quite a few active military families and it is humbling to see the stickers on the back of vehicles that indicate service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  But as an allegory I was thinking what it is like to become a Christian.  When we personally decide to trust in the work of Christ on the Cross something happens that the Bible calls "being reborn".  We actually are re-made in a way as the forgiving and cleansing work of the Lord on our behalf is directly associated with us, personally.  But, not only does that miracle take place, God also moves into our lives.  He puts His Spirit within us and we are characterized as "His Temple", which is like the Temple or Tabernacle that God actually dwelled in in the times of the Old Testament.  If you could see with Spiritual eyes what is happening as a new believer places his faith in Jesus, you might see Heavenly moving vans pulling up to that new member of God's family and all the furnishings that the Spirit wants to bring into that life are carried in.  There is a hunger for the Word of God, the Bible.  There is a new compassion for others.  There is a change of heart and mind regarding certain bad habits and freedom from certain addictions.  There is a totally new mindset toward life.  And once He moves in He remains through life.  The moving vans don't show up again until it is time to leave the body behind and move on to the eternal mansion in Heaven!

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

John 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions;if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

blessings,

Rob Smith