Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

12 July 2025

Reading From Acts 17:16-34

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”

—Acts 17:24-28

     The Apostle Paul acknowledges that God is the Creator of everything and so He is by nature greater than any man made gods or goddesses that human beings can fashion for themselves.  Along this same line of reasoning, Yahweh is everywhere at once and so cannot be contained by a physical temple.  He exists both within and outside of time and space; He is not limited by any constraints of any kind.  Since He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, He cannot be limited by His own creation. 

     While it is true that at various times there is a localized Presence of God as in the Tabernacle, the Temple, the Throne of Heaven, and the Person of Jesus Christ, God is Spirit and therefore is not limited to one location.  He is everywhere, but He has made the hearts of His people His sacred dwelling place and is joining every born again believer together to become a massive Temple He dwells in by His Spirit.  Today, the Church as the Body of Christ is the visible Presence of God upon the Earth. 

     God exists whether we believe in Him or serve Him or not.  He does not depend upon us in any way, but He created us to have healthy, balanced, growing relationship with Him.  He wants us to “seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him.”  It feels so wonderful to be wanted by God.  God loves you and wants you, but He will not force you to believe in Him or accept His leadership in your life. 

     If anyone chooses to believe that Jesus is God and receives Him as such, that person is adopted into the eternal family of God.  By trusting in Jesus for salvation, the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve become the sons and daughters of the Most High God.  In Him we discover our true identity, deepest sense of belonging and we are guided by His Spirit into the adventure that is our destiny, both here and now and in the New Heaven and the New Earth that is to come.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love.  I am deeply grateful that You made the way for me to be reconciled with the Father through Your great sacrifice on the cross.  By Your resurrection I have new life and I am filled with inexpressible joy and unexplainable peace.  I praise and honor Your holy Name.  Amen.”

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

–Isaiah 55:6-9

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

—Revelation 3:20