Heart – God's Voice

STUDY TIP: See Third Commandment for understanding of God’s name.

THE PLACE WHERE GOD WILL PLACE HIS NAME
Religions wrongly teach that temples, tabernacles, shrines, altars and other special meeting places are sacred, holy places where they can expect to have a personal encounter with God. This belief allows religious leaders to hold meetings, services, revivals, conferences and other kinds of gatherings in almost any physical location. And this belief encourages religious people of all religions to go to these places with the expectation that God will spiritually bless people who go there to meet him.

Given the many Biblical references to places where people have personal encounters with God, it is not surprising that these religious beliefs exist. Furthermore, because of scriptures that instruct people to bring tithes and offerings to the place where God will place his name, it is not surprising that religion is usually conducted in buildings. It all happens because people interpret the Bible literally — not symbolically.

STUDY TIP: See Sacrifices, Tithes and Offerings and Tithes for more about the place where God wants tithes and offerings to be brought.

The truth is that God is very clear about the place where he causes his name to dwell and it is not in physical places. Consider the scriptures that confirm the following:

God dwells in the midst of his people.
God’s home is in the heart of his people (i.e. heaven).
The kingdom of heaven where God lives is a place which is explained in the spiritual meaning of parables.
God’s kingdom is in heaven (i.e. heart of his people).
God’s eternal kingdom will never be destroyed. Physical buildings can be destroyed.
Unlike physical buildings, the kingdom of heaven is not open to all people.
The throne from which God rules (e.g. hears the petitions of his people, judges right from wrong, teaches the right way to live, forgives, etc.) his kingdom is in heaven.
God lives in a secret place (i.e. heart of his people).
God does not live in buildings made by human hands.
God’s presence is embodied in his name (i.e. character).

If we stop to think about the fact that God is spirit, we will realize that it only makes sense that a spiritual being is not confined by a physical place. Rather, his home must be in a spiritual place (i.e. heart).

Since spirits are not confined by physical space, we still have a problem trying to understand where God causes his name to dwell. Is it anywhere in particular, or is it everywhere in general as some people think? Maybe it is or maybe it is not, but that question is immaterial. What matters is that God’s name (i.e. character as represented in his laws) exists only in the hearts of people. It is not represented in stones or buildings or any other physical object whether natural or man-made.

So, to understand where God lives we must first put away all of these worldly notions about where God lives and look at what the Bible says:

His name reflects his character.
God’s characteristics are all spiritual. They cannot be seen or touched or manipulated in any way. They cannot be represented in anything physical — whether natural or man-made.
God does not live in houses made by the hands of men.
God lives in and speaks from a spiritual cloud — not in physical clouds.

Finally, we are forced to conclude that God’s name/character is embodied in his laws. We learn this from the following logic:

God writes his laws in the hearts of New Covenant disciples.
God’s home is in the hearts of his people.
When his laws are written in our hearts, we will know God.
The place where God places his character/name is in the hearts of New Covenant disciples.

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