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Building Shelters

             But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” (Luke 4:43)

 

            Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:4)

 

            The people of Capernaum (Peter’s hometown) had heard what Jesus said and seen Him drive out demons and heal the sick, and sought Him out and asked Him to stay. That would seem to be the good Sunday School answer to the situation. “Yes, Jesus, we want You to stay with us. Come live among us.”

            Perhaps it’s not so surprising, when Jesus started talking about dying, and then was transfigured in Peter’s presence, that Peter’s response would be, “Jesus, I want You to stay with us. Let me build shelters so you can all live among us.” In some ways, it was the proper, hospitable thing to do. We encourage others to invite Jesus into their lives. But in Scripture, Jesus always ultimately declines. He’ll go for a visit, but He has kingdom business to take care of and can’t stay. I know the verse in Revelation 3, but it seems as if God isn’t as interested in being invited into our lives as He is in inviting us, and many others, into His.

            This is one of those critical ideas. We get so tangled up in our lives, homes, jobs, and problems that we want God to touch, heal, guide, help, fix, etc., that we lose track of the fact that it’s not about us. It’s not about ours. It’s about Him and His kingdom. I’m not suggesting God doesn’t care and doesn’t touch, heal, guide, help, fix, etc., but that’s not His primary focus and shouldn’t be ours. In some ways, it might be said that we should build roads instead of building shelters for God and inviting Him in.

 

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