Verse: Psalm 84:10
Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Thoughts
St. Augustine once said something like this: “We sin because we don’t trust God that he always at all times has our best in mind” (that’s my best paraphrase at least.)
I find this to be profound and true. The reason we decide to walk away from God’s path – whether it be telling a small lie, exaggerating for effect, lusting after an image, or gossiping behind someone’s back – is that on some level we have stopped trusting God’s love for us. We have decided that God’s path is just a set of rules he made to hold us back, and not an expression of his loving guidance. The truth is, his path is the path to life. But we rebel against that idea, and assume the worst about God, every time we choose to wander from his path. Just like Adam and Even did.
This verse in Psalms is a powerful reminder: one day with God is better than a thousand anywhere else. Think about that. Do we really believe that? Would I rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than be esteemed and praised outside his house? According to this author, life lived for pleasure, and life lived for God, do not even compare. It’s a no brainer. The lowest position with God is greater than the highest position without him.
Why? Because in the end all the promises of sin and temptation will pale in comparison to the love of God. It’s just that simple. Money will fail you, good looks will fail you, sex will fail you, substances that make you feel good will fail you, romance will fail you, power will fail you…..everything will fail you eventually. They all satisfy us for a short while, for a moment, but in the end they leave us empty.
God wants so much more for you and me. He wants to give us fullness of life, fullness of joy, and fullness of love. He wants to free us from shame and guilt. He wants to give us meaning and purpose.
But this doesn’t happen outside of his path. This is why one day is better with him. One day in his courts is better. The people who figure this out and live accordingly are the most content and joyful people on the planet. Everyone else is left to struggle, strive, and try to find life and meaning without God.
Prayer
I pray that you would capture my heart and my imagination. I want my life to be lived in your courts Lord, and not in the courts of this world.
Author: Christian Dunn
Recent Comments