In the third chapter of Hebrews we have noted Christ’s faithfulness in God’s house, “whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Hebrews 3.6. Let us devote a little further study to the nature of God’s house.
The house of God is a wonderful building - it grows. Of an ordinary building of brick or stone, we say that it grows from day to day under the hands of the workmen; but God’s house grows differently; it grows as a tree or a man grows, because it is alive. See: Christ is the foundation, for “other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3.11. But He is a living foundation, “a living Stone,” with power to give life to all that come in contact with Him, so that although we are dead, when we come to Him we also “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2.5. Christ is the foundation, the chief factor in the house, “in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2.12, 22
The Apostle Paul speaks of those who receive the Lord Jesus Christ as “rooted and built up in Him.” Colossians 2.7. Thus we see that the house partakes of the nature of the foundation, the dead material becomes living, and takes root and grows like a tree.
What is the object of God’s house? It is for “a habitation of God.” God builds a house in order that He may dwell in it. But when will He dwell in it? Will He wait until the house is completed before He takes possession?—Not by any means; for it is His presence “through the Spirit,” that gives life to the dead material, and makes it grow, and in Him it is complete and perfect all the time (Colossians 2.10), while all the time growing. Throughout eternity the house will be growing, for where there is life there must be growth. Now is the time when God dwells in His house. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3.16. “For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 2 Corinthians 6.16
We have now only to consider: “What are the characteristics of God’s own, real house?” There is one portion of Scripture that furnishes all that we need in this line. It is the first chapter of Ezekiel, a chapter which we may meditate on with profit for many a long day. That chapter gives a description, as well as human language can do such a thing, of the throne of God; and as is the nature of the throne of God, such must be the nature of the temple in which the throne is. Let us then read Ezekiel chapter 1: —
“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens