WHERE GOD IS AND WHERE YOU WANT TO BE

One day I was invited to visit the family village of a good friend, I drove a few kilometers outside the city on what was nothing more than a bumpy dirt path for donkeys. In the middle of nowhere, we came upon a cluster of small African huts. The dwellings were made of mud bricks and thatched roofs.

As I approached one of the huts, I could hear the hum of a small diesel generator. When I stepped inside the abode there was a group of men who were all watching WWE. I never expected to be in one of the remotest places on earth and see that. It was surreal. One of the young men proceeded to turn to me and ask, “How do these wrestlers not get hurt?” It wasn’t the place to explain (spoiler alert!) that those wrestlers were part of an act and it was not real.

There is something even more amazing that sometimes feels unreal: God dwells among us and abides in us! Where God is, is where we want to be. We often wrestle with this reality.

BIBLICAL REFLECTION ON DWELLING

The story of the Bible reveals a progressive unfolding of God’s desire to dwell with His people. This theme culminates in the New Testament reality that believers themselves, individually and corporately, are His dwelling place. However, let’s back up the story a bit.

God dwelled in the Garden. God has always been. When He created the world and breathed life in Adam and Eve, He walked among them. He was present and actively connecting with them. When they sinned it severed their connection with God and mankind who have been longing for intimacy with God like Eden ever since. (Genesis 2:8-15; Isaiah 51:3, Ezekiel 36:35)

God dwelled in a pillar and tent. In the Old Testament, God chose to dwell among His people in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. The sign of his presence was a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. These physical structures symbolized God’s presence, holiness, and accessibility (albeit with limitations). This established the foundational truth that God desired to be with His people. (Exodus 13: 21-22; 25:8-9; 29:45-46; Numbers 9:15-23; 1 Kings 8:27)

God dwells among us. Jesus Himself is the ultimate “tabernacling” of God among humanity. In Him, the fullness of God dwelt bodily, making God intimately knowable and accessible. (John 1:1-5; 1:14; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25)

God dwells in us. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, individual believers become temples of the Holy Spirit, and the collective body of believers—the church—becomes a spiritual house and God’s dwelling place on earth. This means that wherever pioneer workers go, and as they gather believers, they are carrying and establishing God’s presence.(John 14:15-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:19-22)

God dwells in His city. The future dwelling place of God with humanity is depicted in Revelation 21, where the new heaven and new earth are seen as the temple, and God will fully dwell with His redeemed people. This provides enduring hope for the pioneer, reminding them of the glorious end goal of their work. (Revelation 21:1-3; Colossians 3:1-2)

God calls us to spread His dwelling around the world. As new believers are gathered and discipled, forming new communities in Christ, they are literally building God’s dwelling place in new lands. This transforms a remote outpost into a spiritual epicenter.

What other Scriptures or biblical aspects come to mind when you consider an abiding in Christ and God’s dwelling place? Take a few moments to look up 1-2 of these verses and journal what the Lord highlights for you.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” — Revelation 21:3-4

THE IMPORTANCE OF ABIDING

When you have confidence and comfort that God is with you and that you are near to Him, then you have indescribable joy. Connection with God is an utter delight. Pioneer mission work can be lonely, demanding, and often discouraging. In environments where spiritual support is scarce and visible fruit is slow to appear, the temptation to rely on one’s own strength or strategies is great. There are two foundational truths for each pioneer: the need to abide with Christ and the reality of God’s dwelling place. These truths are lifelines that sustain, empower, and bear fruit in the most challenging mission fields.

Abiding Defined: The word “abide” (Greek: meno) signifies remaining, dwelling, staying, or continuing in a close, intimate, and dependent relationship. Jesus Himself uses the powerful metaphor of the vine and branches to illustrate this vital connection. (John 15:1-11)

Necessity for Life and Connection: Just as a branch cannot produce fruit apart from the vine, a mission worker cannot truly live or be fruitful apart from Christ. This isn’t merely about occasional connection, but a continuous, moment-by-moment reliance. Pioneer contexts often strip away human comforts and resources, making the need for divine life even more stark. (1 John 2:24-28; Galatians 2:20)

Source of Nourishment and Direction: Abiding in Christ means drawing all our spiritual nourishment, strength, wisdom, and direction directly from Him. It frees us from the burden of self-sufficiency and the exhaustion that comes from trying to accomplish God’s work in our own strength. (Colossians 2:6-7)

Lasting Fruitfulness: True, lasting fruit in mission— gospel seed scattering, discipleship, church planting, transformation—flows from Christ’s life through us, not from our own efforts. Abiding ensures that our work is Spirit-led and God-honoring. This is crucial for pioneers who may see little “visible” fruit and need to trust God for the deeper, unseen work.

Peace Amid Chaos: A deep, abiding relationship with Christ provides an unshakable inner peace, even when external circumstances are chaotic, dangerous, or discouraging. This peace is a powerful witness in its own right.

Accepting the invitation to abide: In isolated and challenging fields, the pioneer is never truly alone. The God who dwells in them is present, providing comfort, guidance, and power. More than any strategy or skill, simply abiding with Christ is non-negotiable.

Expanding Mission: The central storyline of the entire Bible revolves around God’s purpose to dwell with his people, and this dwelling place is meant to expand to fill the entire earth. God’s presence with us is a comforting and empowering as we pioneer the gospel among the nations and unreached. As we go, even if it be the most challenging location, He goes with us. (Matthew 28:18-20)

PRAYER ACTION

Consider the Scriptures you cling to above. Consider the dwelling place of God. Write a prayer for the kind of person you want to be who abides with Christ and spreads His dwelling place among the unreached and unengaged.

BUILDING A PRACTICAL MINI-THEOLOGY OF DWELLING

Take some time to prayerfully draft your practical mini-theology of “God’s dwelling” by responding to these questions:

Where is God’s dwelling place? Why does this matter for me and the mission?

example: God is… We are the kind of people who… It is most like us/me to… We/I will… We/I hold to…

What does it mean to abide with Christ? What can it look like to abide with the Lord anywhere, even in isolated locations?

Once you finish share your responses with your mentor. Ask for feedback. Adjust your draft as needed.

Additional Resources for Going Deeper:
God Dwells Among Us, G.K. Beale
The Presence of God, Ryan Lister
InDwell — 7 Day Devotional