“O LORD, who shall sojourn in Your tent?
Who shall dwell on Your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right.” (Psalm 15:1-2)
God is holy. Therefore, only blameless and right people can live close to Him. Further on in this psalm we read what “doing right” entails: speaking the truth, protecting others’ reputation, and putting righteousness above personal gain. Fearing God apparently has massive consequences for how we treat other humans. It is not just about praying and keeping a set of commandments, but also about reflecting God’s grace and holiness in this world.
The righteous people described here are welcome in God’s house. But all too often, we fail to answer these “requirements”. Does that mean that we are excluded from God’s presence?
By ourselves, yes. But there is Somebody who has opened a way for us to the Father. He even calls Himself “the way, the truth and the life”. It is Jesus Christ. He paid for our sin, “so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through Him, we are welcome in the Father’s house.
Do you live close to God? If not, what does hold you back?