“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD, all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.”

(Psalm 27v4 NIV)

From the age of 5 years old when I was in primary school, and the years growing up to college, I can remember walking along the main road to school and home again. I was always so glad to arrive home and be able to change my sweaty, dirty clothes, collapse onto the couch, and most of the time have mother welcome me with her wonderful smile and cheerful hello! On the odd occasion also arriving home to the pleasant smell of mother’s baking.

Years later I found myself in a job that required me to travel extensively around the world, and I would often go to countries far away from home like Pakistan, China, Thailand, Indonesia, USA and others. But as interesting and wonderful as those places were, whenever I was flying home and flew over Auckland City, I would always look out the window and know I’d soon be home to the warmth and joy of my wife and children and I’d say to myself “There’s no place like home!”     

In our scripture today, David the Psalmist knew how wonderful it was to be in the presence of the LORD and he made it his supreme desire. Home to the Psalmist was in the presence of the LORD! it was his ‘go to place’!

This is what I believe GOD wants us all to enjoy, the warmth and knowledge of His presence! He has promised us His presence would always be with us. “Lo I am with you always!” (Matt 28v20) GOD’s presence was faithfully with the children of Israel every day! Not just for Easter and Christmas and when we feel we’re good enough to have His smile, no He was with them every day and every night! “By day in a pillar of Cloud, and by night in a pillar of Fire” (Exodus 13v21).

When a Christian person dies we often hear it said that “they’re at home now with the LORD”. David the Psalmist didn’t wait until he died, he said ‘I’m asking GOD for this one thing, to live with Him in His home my whole life long! That’s in the presence of the LORD!

Wherever you may be, remember He is with you and like David, there’s no place like home!