My Heart Christ's Home
by Robert Boyd Munger
In Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, we find these words:
"That (God) would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to
be strengthened
with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in
your hearts by
faith" (Ephesians 3:16). Or, as another has translated, "That Christ
may settle down
and be at home in your hearts by faith."
Without question one of the most remarkable Christian doctrines is
that Jesus Christ
Himself through the presence of the Holy Spirit will actually enter a
heart, settle
down and be at home there. Christ will make the human heart His abode.
Our Lord said to His disciples, "If a man love me, he will keep my
words: and my
Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode
with him" (John
14:23). It was difficult for them to understand what He was saying.
How was it possible
for Him to make his abode with them in this sense?
It is interesting that our Lord used the same word here that He gave
them in the
first of the fourteenth chapter of John: "I go to prepare a place for
you .. that
where I am, ye may be also." Our Lord was promising his disciples
that, just as
He was going to heaven to prepare a place for them and would welcome
them one day,
now it would be possible for them to prepare a place for Him in their
hearts and
He would come and make His abode with them.
They could not understand this. How could it be?
Then came Pentecost. The Spirit of the living Christ was given to the
church and
they understood. God did not dwell in Herod's temple in Jerusalem!
God did not dwell
in a temple made with hands; but now, through the miracle of the
outpoured Spirit,
God would dwell in human hearts. The body of the believer would be
the temple of
the living God and the human heart would be the home of Jesus Christ.
It is difficult
for me to think of a higher privilege than to make Christ a home in
my heart, to
welcome, to serve, to please, to fellowship with him there.
One evening I invited Jesus Christ into my heart. What an entrance He
made! It was
not a spectacular, emotional thing, but very real. It was at the very
center of my
life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light.
He built a fire
in the cold hearth and banished the chill. He started music where
there had been
stillness, and He filled the emptiness with His own loving, wonderful
fellowship.
I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will -
not into eternity!
This, of course, is the first step in making the heart Christ's home.
He has said,
"Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and
open the door,
I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
(Revelation 3:20).
If you are interested in making your life an abode of the living God,
let me encourage
you to invite Christ into your heart and He will surely come
After Christ entered my heart and in the joy of this new relationship
I said to Him,
"Lord, I want this heart of mine to be Yours. I want to have You
settle down here
and be perfectly at home. Everything I have belongs to You. Let me
show You around
and introduce you to the various features of the home that you may be
more comfortable
and that we may have fuller fellowship together."
He was very glad to come, of course, and happier still to be given a
place in the
heart
The Library
The first room was the study - the library. Let us call it the study
of the mind.
Now in my home this room of the mind is a very small room with very
thick walls.
But it is an important room. In a sense, it is the control room of
the house. He
entered with me and looked around at the books in the bookcase, the
magazines upon
the table, the pictures on the walls. As I followed His gaze I became
uncomfortable.
Strangely enough, I had not felt badly about this before, but now
that He was there
looking at these things I was embarrassed. There were some books were
there that
His eyes were too pure to behold. There was a lot of trash and
literature on the
table that a Christian had no business reading, and as for the
pictures on the walls
- the imaginations and thoughts of the mind - these were shameful.
I turned to Him and said, "Master, I know that this room needs a
radical alteration.
Will You help me make it what it ought to be? - to bring every
thought into captivity
to you?"
"Surely!" He said. "Gladly will I help you. First of all, take all
the things that
you are reading and looking at which are not helpful, pure, good and
true, and throw
them out! Now put on the empty shelves the books of the Bible. Fill
the library with
Scriptures and meditate on then day and night. As for the pictures on
the walls,
you will have difficulty controlling these images, but here is an
aid" He gave me
a full-size portrait of Himself. "Hang this centrally," He said, "on
the wall of
the mind."
I did, and I have discovered through the years that when my thoughts
are centered
upon Christ Himself, His purity and power cause impure thoughts to
back away. So
He has helped me to bring my thoughts into captivity.
May I suggest to you if you have difficulty with this little room of
the mind, that
you bring Christ in there. Pack it full with the Word of God,
meditate upon it and
keep before it the immediate presence of the Lord Jesus.
The Dining Room
From the study we went into the dining room, the room of appetites
and desires. Now
this was a very large room. I spent a good deal of time in the dining
room and much
effort in satisfying my wants.
I said to Him, "This is a favorite room. I am quite sure You will be
pleased with
what we serve."
He seated Himself at the table with me and asked, "What is on the
menu for dinner?"
"Well," I said, "my favorite dishes: money, academic degrees and
stocks, with newspaper
articles of fame and fortune as side dishes." These were the things I
liked - worldly
fare. I suppose there was nothing radically wrong in any particular
item, but it
was not the food that should satisfy the life of a real Christian.
When the food
was placed before Him, He said nothing about it. However, I observed
that He did
not eat it, and I said to Him, somewhat disturbed, "Master, don't You
care for this
food? What is the trouble?"
He answered, "I have meat to eat that you do not know of. My meat is
to do the will
of Him that sent Me." He looked at me again and said, "If you want
food that really
satisfies you, seek the will of the Father, not your own pleasures,
not your own
desires, and not your own satisfaction. Seek to please Me and that
food will satisfy
you." And there at the table He gave me a taste of doing God's will.
What a flavor!
There is no food like it in all the world. It alone satisfies.
Everything else is
dissatisfying in the end.
Now if Christ is in your heart, and I trust He is, what kind of food
are you serving
Him and what kind of food are you eating yourself? Are you living for
the lust of
the flesh and the pride of life - selfishly? Or are you choosing
God's will for your
meat and drink?
The Living Room
We walked next into the living room. This room was rather intimate
and comfortable.
I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a sofa, and a
quiet atmosphere.
He also seemed pleased with it. He said, "This is indeed a delightful
room. Let us
come here often. It is secluded and quiet, and we can fellowship together."
Well, naturally as a young Christian I was thrilled. I couldn't think
of anything
I would rather do than have a few minutes with Christ in intimate
companionship.
He promised, "I will be here early every morning. Meet me here, and
we will start
the day together." So morning after morning, I would come downstairs
to the living
room and He would take a book of the Bible from the bookcase. He
would open it and
then we would read together. He would tell me of its riches and
unfold to me its
truths. He would make my heart warm as He revealed His love and His
grace He had
toward me. These were wonderful hours together. In fact, we called
the living room
the "withdrawing room." It was a period when we had our quiet time together.
But, little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities,
this time began
to be shortened. Why, I'm don't know, but I thought I was just too
busy to spend
time with Christ. This was not intentional, you understand; it just
happened that
way. Finally, not only was the time shortened, but I began to miss a
day now and
then. It was examination time at the university. Then it was some
other urgent emergency.
I would miss it two days in a row and often more.
I remember one morning when I was in a hurry, rushing downstairs,
eager to be on
my way.
As I passed the living room, the door was open. Looking in, I saw a
fire in the
fireplace and Jesus was sitting there. Suddenly in dismay I thought
to myself, "He
was my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as Lord of my
home. And yet
here I am neglecting Him."
I turned and went in. With downcast glance, I said, "Blessed Master,
forgive me.
Have You been here all these mornings?"
"Yes," He said, "I told you I would be here every morning to meet
with you." Then
I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my
faithfulness. I asked
His forgiveness and He readily forgave me as He does when we are
truly repentant.
"The trouble with you is this: you have been thinking of the quiet
time, of the Bible
study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress,
but you have forgotten
that this hour means something to me also. Remember, I love you. I
have redeemed
you at great cost. I value your fellowship. Now," He said, "do not
neglect this hour
if only for my sake. Whatever else may be your desire, remember I
want your fellowship!"
You know, the truth that Christ desires my companionship, that He
loves me, wants
me to be with Him, wants to be with me and waits for me, has done
more to transform
my quiet time with God than any other single fact. Don't let Christ
wait alone in
the living room of your heart, but every day find some time when,
with your Bible
and in prayer, you may be together with Him.
The Workroom
Before long, He asked, "Do you have a workroom in your home?" Down in
the basement
of the home of my heart I had a workbench and some equipment, but I
was not doing
much with it. Once in a while I would play around with a few little
gadgets, but
I wasn't producing anything substantial or worthwhile.
I led Him down there.
He looked over the workbench and what little talents and skills I
had. He said, "This
is quite well furnished. What are you producing with your life for
the Kingdom of
God?" He looked at one or two little toys that I had thrown together
on the bench
and held one up to me. "Are these little toys all that you are doing
for others in
your Christian life?"
"Well," I said, "Lord, that is the best I can do. I know it isn't
much, and I really
want to do more, but after all, I have no skill or strenghth to do more."
"Would you like to do better?" He asked.
"Certainly," I replied.
"All right. Let me have your hands. Now relax in me and let my Spirit
work through
you. I know that you are unskilled, clumsy and awkward, but the Holy
Spirit is the
Master-Worker, and if He controls your hands and your heart, He will
work through
you." And so, stepping around behind me and putting His great, strong
hands over
mine, controlling the tools with His skilled fingers He began to work
through me.
There's much more that I must still learn and I am very far from
satisfied with the
product that is being turned out, but I do know that whatever has
been produced for
God has been through His strong hand and through the power of His Spirit in me.
Do not become discouraged because you cannot do much for God. Your
ability is not
the fundamental condition. It is He who is controlling your fingers
and upon whom
you are relying. Give your talents and gifts to God and He will do
things with them
that will surprise you..
The Rec Room
I remember the time He asked me about the playroom. I was hoping He
would not ask
about that. There were certain associations and friendships,
activities and amusements
that I wanted to keep for myself. I did not think Christ would enjoy
them or approve
of them, so I evaded the question.
But there came an evening when I was on my way out with some of my
friends, and as
I was about to cross the threshold, He stopped me with a glance and
asked, "Are you
going out?"
I replied, "Yes."
"Good," He said, "I would like to go with you."
"Oh," I answered rather awkwardly. "I don't think, Lord Jesus, that
You would really
want to go with us. Let's go out tomorrow night. Tomorrow night we
will go to prayer
meeting, but tonight I have another appointment."
He said. "That's alright. Only I thought that when I came into your
home, we were
going to do everything together, to be close companions. I just want
you to know
that I am willing to go with you."
"Well," I said, "we will go someplace together tomorrow night."
That evening I spent some miserable hours. I felt wretched. What kind
of a friend
was I to Jesus when I was deliberately leaving Him out of my
associations, doing
things and going places that I knew very well He would not enjoy?
When I returned
that evening, there was a light in His room, and I went up to talk it
over with Him.
I said, "Lord, I have learned my lesson. I can't have a good time
without You. From
now on we will do everything together."
Then we went down into the playroom of the house and He transformed
it. He brought
into life real joy, real happiness, real satisfaciton, new friends,
new excitement,
new joys. Laughter and music have been ringing through the house ever since.
The Hall Closet
There is just one more matter that I might share with you. One day I
found Him waiting
for me at the door. An arresting look was in His eye. As I entered,
He said to me,
"There is a peculiar odor in the house. There is something dead
around here. It's
upstairs. I think it is in the hall closet." As soon as He said this,
I knew what
He was talking about. Yes, there was a small closet up there on the
landing, just
a few feet square, and in that closet, behind lock and key, I had one
or two little
personal things that I did not want anyone to know about and
certainly I did not
want Christ to see them. I knew they were dead and rotting things
left over from
the old life. And yet I loved them, and I wanted them so for myself
that I was afraid
to admit they were there.
Reluctantly, I went up with Him, and as we mounted the stairs the
odor became stronger
and stronger. He pointed at the door. "It's in there! Some dead thing!"
I was angry. That's the only way I can put it. I had given Him access
to the library,
the dining room, the living room, the workroom, the playroom, and now
He was asking
me about a little two-by-four closet. I said to myself, "This is too
much. I am not
going to give Him the key."
"Well," He said, reading my thoughts, "if you think I'm going to stay
up here on
the second floor with this odor, you are mistaken. I will take my bed
out on the
back porch. I'm certainly not going to put up with that." Then I saw
Him start down
the stairs.
When you have come to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can
happen is to
sense His fellowship retreating from you. I had to surrender. "I'll
give You the
key," I said sadly, "but You'll have to open the closet and clean it
out. I haven't
the strength to do it."
"I know," He said. "I know you haven't. Just give me the key. Just
authorize me to
take care of that closet and I will." So with trembling fingers I
passed the key
to Him. He took it from my hand, walked over to the door, opened it,
entered it,
took out all the putrefying stuff that was rotting there, and threw
it away. The
He cleaned the closet and painted it, fixed it up, doing it all in a
moment's time.
Oh, what victory and release to have that dead thing out of my life!
Transferring the Title
Then a thought came to me. I said to myself, "I have been trying to
keep this heart
of mine clear for Christ. I start on one room and no sooner have I
cleaned that then
another room is dirty. I begin on the second room and the first room
becomes dusty
again. I am so tired and weary trying to maintain a clean heart and
an obedient life.
I am just not up to it!"
So I ventured a question: "Lord, is there any chance that You would
take over the
responsibility of the whole house and operate it for me and with me
just as You did
that closet? Would You take the responsibility to keep my heart what
it ought to
be and my life where it ought to be?"
I could see His face light up as He replied, "Certainly, that is what
I came to do.
You cannot be a victorious Christian in your own strength. That is
impossible. Let
me do it through you and for you. That is the way. But," He added
slowly, "I am not
owner of this house. I am just a guest. I have no authority to
proceed, since the
property is not mine."
I saw it in a minute and dropping to my knees, I said, "Lord, You
have been a guest
and I have been the host. From now on I am going to be the servant.
You are going
to be the owner and Master and Lord."
Running as fast as I could to the strongbox, I took out the title
deed to the house
describing its assets and liabilities, location and situation and
condition. I eagerly
signed it over to belong to Him alone for time and eternity. "Here,"
I said. "Here
it is, all that I am and have forever. Now You run the house. I'll
just remain with
You as a servant and friend."
He took my life that day and I can give you my word, there is no
better way to live
the Christian life. He knows how to keep it in shape and deep peace
settles down
on the soul. May Christ settle down and be at home in your heart as
Lord of all!
Robert Boyd Munger (1911-2001) was a Presbyterian minister who wrote
this timeless
work exactly 50 years ago. As vividly compelling a read then, I have
found no other
essay on the ABC's of the Christian life, other than Scripture
itself, so impacting
as Munger's wonderful work here. RDM
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