“WHERE GOD LIVES”

1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? 2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

Isaiah 66:1-2

St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is the biggest church building in the world. It can accommodate up to 60,000 people standing and about 20,000 sitting. Here are some tidbits you might want to know about this historic building.

"To commemorate St. Peter, Emperor Constantine decided to build a church in the Vatican and pay tribute to his sacrifice. The tomb of the Apostle rests below the church, with an altar built precisely over it."

"Made as a symbol of pride, St. Peter’s Basilica is grand by all measures. Measuring 448.1 feet, St. Peter’s Basilica consists of the tallest dome in the world. Its vast interiors cover more than 3.7 acres, while the entire area of the basilica is about 2.3 hectares."

According to historians, the Roman Empire spent about $33 billion in today’s currency to build this church.

"The majestic monument is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Rome."

Sources:

https://www.st-peters-basilica-tickets.com/st-peters-basilica-facts/#

https://www.archeoroma.org/sites/papal-basilica-st-peter-vatican/

From an architectural, engineering standpoint, St. Peter’s Basilica shows the pinnacle of human craftsmanship. But its beauty and cultural significance does not necessarily mean that God inhabits the place. The same thing can be said of the Temple in Israel during biblical times. The building was an architectural marvel, but the people turned it from a house of worship of God to a den of thieves, and at some point, even adulterers.

Today’s passage talks about the future of Israel, when it finally acknowledges Jesus as its Lord. While they will build a new temple and restore the sacrifices, God will be more interested in their hearts than the building itself. The passage demonstrates God's uncontainable presence and incomparable power. There is no earthly structure that can contain Him. In fact, "He's got the whole world in His hands."

Our God is the Maker of all things; at the same time, He is a personal God. We can't build a house for Him. We can’t give Him anything that’s not His, to begin with. But despite His majesty, He seeks to have a personal relationship with us.

The Bible shows us that God is more concerned about our hearts’ condition than anything we can give Him. He wants our hearts to be fully yielded to Him. That’s what worship is about. It is the human soul being in awe and amazed by the beauty, glory, and majesty of the Almighty.

God, being the Creator of heaven and the earth, deserves our true worship. While we can build great structures for our church meetings or use various instruments in our worship services, they are not a substitute for yielded hearts. He doesn’t dwell in buildings, but He does in the heart of a person who is humble and contrite, and who trembles at His word.

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash