December 21, 2008
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Fourth Sunday of Advent: Are you preparing Him room?
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
(Isaac Watts, 1719)Most of us grew up hearing and singing "Joy to the World," but have you ever paused to think about what those words really mean?Let earth receive her King.Do you really treat Jesus as your King?
Let every heart prepare Him room.Are you preparing room for Him in your heart,
or are you turning Him away like the Bethlehem innkeeper?
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
(Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne, Emily E. Elliott, 1864)Can you honestly sing the refrain to that hymn:
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.Since Jesus has come to the world, we are all faced with a choice: Are we going to prepare Him room or not?
I think most of us would say that if we were the innkeeper in Bethlehem, there would have been no way we would have turned away Mary and Joseph, but I only wonder...
As I've been reflecting on what it means to "prepare Him room" and "prepare the way of the Lord," the story of Eliashib came to mind (see Nehemiah 13). Eliashib, the priest of the Lord, prepared a room for Tobiah in courts of the house of God (Nehemiah 13). The problem here was that Tobiah was an avowed enemy of God's people, yet here we have Eliashib, a man dedicated to God for the service of God, a man who should have known better, preparing a room of Tobiah in the house of God!
A little background for you on Tobiah. You may recall that God's good hand was on Nehemiah to bring him to Jerusalem to lead the children of Israel in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem so they might no longer be a reproach. As soon Nehemiah came on the scene, we find Tobiah was very much displeased ("deeply disturbed," NKJV) that such a man as Nehemiah had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel. Tobiah didn't want to see the wall rebuilt; he didn't want to see the children of Israel prosper. Tobiah constantly sought to frighten and intimidate God's people. He laughed and scorned and despised the people of God. He worked to undermine God's people and their work and God's good purposes for His people. (See Nehemiah 2:10, 19; Nehemiah 4 and 6).
How contemptible then that we should find Eliashib preparing a room for this man in the courts of the house of God! The room Eliashib had prepared for Tobiah was a designated storage place for the various articles and items used in the worship of God and the temple service.
How could Eliashib have done this?
Certainly we would never have done such a thing––or would we?
God has visited us and redeemed us through the blood of His only begotten Son Jesus.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people...
Luke 1:68Redeemed us from what? From the power of devil and the power of sin and death.
How then should we live as His redeemed people? Should we not be preparing room in our hearts for Him rather than for sin?
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people...
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. Luke 1:68, 74-75.Charles Wesley tells us Jesus was
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever
Jesus, our Deliverer and our King, has been born to dwell in us, to reign in us. Consequently, when we make room for sin (Tobiah), we are saying to Jesus, "Sorry, but there's no room at the inn for You tonight." The apostle John reminds usThis is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. I John 1:5-6.Because God has purchased us with Christ's blood, our lives are not our own. Our hearts are to be the dwelling place of God's Spirit (II Cor. 5:15; I Cor. 6:19; II Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:19-22). Yet how often do we invite sin to enter into that consecrated place? God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, yet how often do we flirt with the darkness? Jesus said that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but in light. How often do we entertain some sin in our minds figuring no one will find out? Or engage in some sin behind closed doors? Or excuse away sin by simply saying, "I can't help it; that's just the way I am," or "Well, if he hadn't done so and so, then I wouldn't have had to do..."?
Brothers and sisters, whenever we entertain or engage in or excuse away sin in any way, we are playing the harlot, we are inviting Tobiah into the temple of the living God, into our hearts, that very place which has been sanctified to be the dwelling place for God's Spirit. Whenever we prepare room in our hearts for sin, we're acting no differently than Eliashib when he prepared a room for Tobiah.
...for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 2:8-16.Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people. I Corinthians 6:14-16.When Nehemiah discovered Eliashib had prepared a room for Tobiah, Nehemiah didn't mince words: he flat out called it evil. Why did Nehemiah respond as he did? Because Nehemiah had a high view of God; he knew God was holy, he knew God is light and in Him there is no darkness and God cannot abide sin in His holy presence. He knew our God is a consuming fire. Nehemiah became angry ("grieved me sore," KJV) over Eliashib's behavior, but he didn't stop there. Nehemiah took action; he threw out all Tobiah's goods and ordered the rooms to be cleansed. Only then did Nehemiah restore all the vessels of the house of God to their rightful place.
Our hearts belong to our Redeemer; they are His rightful dominion and dwelling place since He has purchased us with His own precious blood. Just as Nehemiah threw out all Tobiah's goods and had the rooms cleansed, we must take action, we must throw out any and all things that are not of Christ and our hearts must receive His cleansing so we make room for Him. We must be cutthroat and show no mercy. We cannot afford to compromise one iota. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and so we must cooperate with Christ in His work in us to purify us from all sin and unrighteousness.
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. I John 3:3-9.Are you preparing room in your heart for Christ? Are you preparing the way of the Lord? If you are a child of God, you cannot and will not make a practice of sinning, that is, you cannot continue to persist in your sin.
Do we respond to our sin like Nehemiah did, or do we turn a blind eye to it?
Do we call our sin evil?
Does our sin anger us?
Does our sin grieve us sore?What sins have we made room for in our hearts?
What sins do we need to throw out?
What sin do you keep having difficulty throwing out?
What sins do we need to confess so we might receive God's forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Christ?The apostle Paul warns us
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.
7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. II Corinthians 6:14-7:1.[1]If we are the Lord's, we must be preparing room in our hearts for our Lord.
The believer's heart is to be consecrated to the Lord and continually cleansed so our He might dwell there. When the Holy Spirit shows us our sin, thanks be to God He has made provision for us to receive forgiveness and cleansing through our Advocate the Lord Jesus Christ when we confess our sins to Him (I John 1:5-2:2).
But we cannot stop at confessing our sins. God has called us to holiness and not impurity (see I Thessalonians 4:1-8). Like Nehemiah, we must take violent action to prepare Him room. Christ is our sanctification and our Sanctifier, but that doesn't mean we just sit back and do nothing. Paul tells us we ought to be cleansing ourselves from everything that defiles us (II. Cor. 7:1), and John reminds us that as children of God we should be purifying ourselves as He is pure (see I John 2:28-3:9; 5:18-21).
We must be vigilant about guarding our hearts and be ready to cast out all that is not of Christ. Paul talks about putting to death or mortifying whatever is earthly in us and putting off the old self. We are not to let sin reign in us but rather Christ. (For example, see Colossians 3:1-11; Ephesians 4:17-24; Romans 6.)
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. I Corinthians 5:7.We are to be working out what God has worked in us (Philippians 2:12-13). If we are Christ's, the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, and the Spirit of Christ is holiness and purity and light. As we battle against sin and throw it out, so to speak, as we prepare room in our hearts for Him, we are showing we are truly children of light and joint-heirs with the spotless, sinless Lamb of God (I Peter 1:13-21). As children of a holy God we should increasingly reflect our Father's holy character and become more and more distressed over our sin.
Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.
(Angels from the Realms of Glory-James Montgomery, 1816)The Church is God's possession, His called out people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Just as the high priest bore the words "Holiness to the Lord" on his forehead, our very lives are to be Holiness to the Lord. I wonder how I might live differently if I could remember I am "Holiness to the Lord" each and every day, each and every moment of the day. For example, I know I would not have been so impatient with the grocery store clerk during a recent shopping trip...
If you are a Christian, the holy Child of Bethlehem has descended and has been born in you, but you must continue to choose to prepare Him room. The good news of the Gospel is that the power of Christ dwells in us so we might live out His calling and command to be holy as He is holy. God has given us a new heart and a new Spirit to will and to do of His good pleasure. God's commandments to be holy and to be perfect are not burdensome because we are new creations in Him, partakers of His divine nature. Christ is being formed in us, Christ is continuing His work in us to sanctify us, so we might live lives of holiness unto Him, lives worthy of His name and His calling: to depart from evil and be zealous for good works.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder...II Peter 1:3-13.But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. II Timothy 2:19-21.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. I Thessalonians 5:23-24.
Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates,
(George Weissel, 1642)Behold the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near,
The Savior of the world is here;
Life and salvation doth He bring,
Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:
We praise Thee, Father, now!
Creator, wise art Thou!...Fling wide the portals of your heart,
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for Heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy;
So shall your Sovereign enter in,
And new and nobler life begin:
To Thee, O God, be praise,
For word and deed and grace!Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to Thee—here, Lord, abide!
Let me Thy inner presence feel,
Thy grace and love in me reveal,
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious goal is won!
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy Name.Jesus is calling us
Fling wide the portals of your heart,
Make it a temple set apartOur Lord wants us to preparing the way for Him, flinging wide the portals of our hearts to Him for His use alone.
What preparations must you undertake to make room for Him in your heart so you might be a holy vessel useful to the Master, a temple set apart for Heaven's employ, wholly consecrated for every good work?
O holy Father, strengthen us to fling wide the portals of our hearts, so we might be a temple set apart for Your Holy Spirit. Help us to make room for Your Holy Child to dwell in our hearts. May we not turn Him away like the innkeeper that first Christmas. Keep us from inviting sin into the place dedicated for You alone. Show us the Tobiahs we have invited into our hearts. May Your kindness lead us to repentance so we might confess our sin. May Your Spirit empower us to throw out all the leaven, cast off all that is evil, all that is not of You. Cleanse our hearts anew so we might prepare room for our rightful King to come and dwell in us. You have redeemed us to be His dwelling place. He was born so He might reign in our hearts forever. Help us to prepare the way of the Lord and make room for Him in our hearts for Your will for us is sanctification.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
(from "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus," Charles Wesley, 1745)
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room...
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Hymn lyrics accessed from The Cyberhymnal
[1] I don't mean to imply here that we are to live in isolation from the world either in a Christian bubble or a monastic lifestyle. As we look at Jesus' words and example, we can see that is not what Paul means. Jesus has left us in the world and sends us out into the world on mission, yet as children of light, we are called to live differently from the world: to shine as lights in the world. We must keep in mind that even though we may succeed in separating ourselves from the world in many ways, we can never be totally removed from all temptation for no matter where we live, we will still find ourselves tempted to sin because the root of sin is within us, from our hearts, There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. Mark 7:15. See also see James 2:14-15.
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