Where Does God Live?

by John Michalak

Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I didn’t know it.” He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of heaven.”

Genesis 28:16-17

Where does God live?

Does He live inside church buildings? Does He live in the heavens?

Jacob awakened from a dream where he witnessed the presence of God in the place where he slept. God spoke to him and renewed the covenant He made with Jacob’s father and grandfather, that He would be their God and they would be His people.

Jacob thus dedicated himself to live under God’s covenant. He recognized that when God is present, the place and the people be changed as holy. Thus Jacob said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:17). He rose up in the morning, set the pillow stone up, called the place Bethel. Hebrew word Bethel means God’s house (Genesis 28:18-19).

What…or who…lives in your heart?