Psalm 15 - The Holy Mountain
David asked a question that we all need to think about. He asked “Lord, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain?” (Psalm 15:1)
Then, as though God had given the answer to his heart, he spends the rest of the psalm giving the answer.
The one who:
lives free of blame
does what is right
does not damage with their talk
does no harm to a friend
etc.
Today we live in the New Testament times. That is the time after Jesus has gone to the cross and risen from the dead. We live in a time where the answer to “God who can dwell with you” is simplified down to one sentence: “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and in your heart you have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
That does not mean we don’t live a life that looks like the description of Psalm 15. If anything, the book of James tells us that BECAUSE God has saved us through Jesus we should desire to live a life that looks like that. But God does not keep a checklist on us to make sure we do everything perfectly every day. In fact, He knows we can’t. That is why He gave His Son to die on the cross for us.
Because He is our God. We are His people. And He wants us joined together for eternity on His holy mountain.
Need I remind you what that will be like?
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 CEB)
The fact that God loves us enough to want us with Him there; the fact that God loves us enough to have made the way through His Son; the fact that we have a hope and a future should cause us to fall down and worship.
Not just on Sunday morning.
But every minute of every day.
What does that look like? It looks like a person living the life described in Psalm 15.