“You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself.
I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.”
Numbers 35:34
God’s final command to His people in the book of Numbers summarizes everything He had been teaching them since they left Egypt… I am YOUR God…I am holy. I have come to live with you…so you must be holy too! But not only the people, the land where they lived must also be holy, because GOD lived there with them!
God’s dwelling place had been the Temple His children built for Him! However, the day Jesus’ death gave everyone access to relationship with God, He began dwelling in the hearts of all who invited Him. We became His many temples. Consequently, God’s command, “You must not defile the land…for I live there myself,” takes on a whole new meaning…our hearts are HIS land!
No wonder God said, “Above all else, guard your heart…” For me, that has meant endless purity lessons: Constant reminders to keep the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart acceptable to HIM (Ps. 19:14) …Regular attitude checks from Jesus’ parable of the proud Pharisee (Lk. 18:9-14) …and daily choices to purify my relationships by living Jesus’ prayer, forgive me as I forgive others (Mt. 6:12).
“Holy God, I will always be amazed that You live in my heart…
Please help me pass all the purity lessons…because I never want to defile YOUR land!”
