Dwelling with God: Hold firm to your faith

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The biblical festival of Shemini Atzeret, the Convocation of the Eighth Day, has profound and complex themes surrounding the concept of dwelling with God. Participants were challenged to explore the depth of this pivotal event and its implications for their own spiritual journeys.

Focusing on the Core Ideas

A core idea is the contrast between the humble sukkah — the temporary booth used during Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-44) — and the grand, permanent city of the New Jerusalem, which represents the ultimate destination for those who choose to follow God (Revelation 21:2-4).

This transition symbolizes the journey from our temporary, earthly existence to the eternal, uninterrupted communion with the divine. The imagery of the sukkah, with its focus on humility and remembrance, was juxtaposed with the grandeur and permanence of the new Jerusalem, suggesting a deeper spiritual transformation.

Metaphorical nature of the New Jerusalem

A key aspect of the study is the metaphorical nature of the new Jerusalem. Rather than viewing it as a purely physical structure, the imagery of the New Jerusalem represents the community of believers, the “living stones” that make up the temple of God (1Peter 2:4-5).

That the divine dwelling among us, of God’s presence being manifest in the very fabric of our lives, is both humbling and exhilarating. We, as flawed and imperfect human beings, are the cherished possession of the Almighty, the very embodiment of His desire.

2 categories of people

The biblical narrative includes two distinct categories of people that will be part of this eternal kingdom: those who have chosen to follow God during their lifetime, and those who did not (Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15).

The first group will dwell with the Messiah for a period after His return, while the second will be judged based on their actions and either welcomed into the kingdom or excluded. This distinction is both sobering and thought-provoking, as it highlights the weight of our individual responsibility and the consequences of our choices in life.

Enter, repenter

Hebrews 3-4 has an impactful warning, with a parallel between the Israelites’ journey out of Egypt and the choices we face in our own lives. That underscores the importance of trust and belief, even when we don’t fully comprehend the reasons behind God’s instructions (Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1-11).

The idea that simply being included in Israel’s exodus from bondage in Egypt — or in modern terms, being a follower of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) — does not automatically guarantee our inclusion in God’s kingdom is a sobering reality check. We must examine the depth of our own faith, to ensure that we are not simply going through the motions, but truly embracing the transformative power of a life lived in submission to the divine.

Supremacy of the Messiah

The Messiah has supremacy over Heaven’s chief servant, Moses. The Messiah’s ability to overrule the chief servant’s decisions, to forgive and restore those who have failed, was a powerful reminder of the unique role of the Son in God’s plan (Hebrews 3:1-6).

This speaks to the depth of the Messiah’s intimate knowledge of the Master’s will and His unwavering commitment to the redemption of humanity. It challenges us to consider the nature of their own relationship with the Messiah, to examine whether they were truly trusting in His guidance and submitting to His will.

Metaphor of the New Jerusalem

The metaphorical nature of the New Jerusalem emphasizes human beings as the living stones that make up the temple (1Peter 2:4-5). The idea that God’s ultimate desire is to dwell among us, to make His home in the very fabric of our lives, is a profound and humbling truth (Revelation 21:1-3).

How are we contributing to the foundation of this eternal city, pondering the impact of our choices and actions on the lives of those around us? Are we playing a role in the growth and development of this divine community? Or are we, like the wicked and unbelieving, standing apart and refusing to be a part of God’s grand design (Revelation 21:8, 27).

Importance of trust–faith

Israelites’ rebellion in the wilderness has parallels with the choices we face in our own lives. Likewise, we must examine the depth of our own belief in God’s plan, even when we don’t fully understand it (Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1-11).

The Bible uses the metaphor of the master, the chief servant and the son, further reinforcing the importance of submitting to the divine guidance, even when it may not align with our own limited understanding. We are encouraged to consider the ways in which they might be clinging to their own preconceptions, like the Israelites, and risk being excluded from God’s eternal rest.

Promise of dwelling with God

We easily can be captivated by the vision of the new heavens and earth, and the promise of dwelling with God in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-4; 21:22-27). The idea that human beings, in their physical, flesh-and-blood form, would one day walk through the gates of this celestial city is both surprising and deeply meaningful.

This challenges our preconceptions about the nature of the afterlife, suggesting that God’s ultimate plan for humanity is not one of disembodied, spiritual existence, but a restoration of the very essence of our humanity, redeemed and transformed by His grace.

Messiah our anchor

We’re left with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper appreciation for the gravity of the decisions we make in this life. The choice before us is clear: to trust and believe, even when they don’t fully understand, or to harden their hearts and risk exclusion from God’s eternal rest (Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1-11).

The Messiah’s supreme authority and the metaphorical nature of the New Jerusalem leaves an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. We’re challenged to examine the depth of our own faith, to consider the ways in which we might be contributing to the foundation of this divine community, and to surrender our need for control in order to embrace the mystery of God’s plan.

As we step out into the world, we carry with us a renewed sense of hope and determination. The journey ahead won’t be an easy one, but we also know that we’re not alone. With the Messiah as our guide and the promise of God’s eternal presence as our anchor, we’re were ready to face whatever challenges lay in store, trusting that the choices we made would one day lead us to the very gates of the new Jerusalem, where they would dwell with their Creator for all eternity.