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Where Does God Live?
“D
by Deck Cheatham
addy, where does God live?” “Well, Little Bit, that is a good question. Where do you think He lives?”
“My friend from school, Sallie Mae, says He lives in
heaven and sits on a big chair. Bobby Felkel says He hangs
loving their neighbor just as much. Folks have a hard time sharing. But when they do, God comes to live between them and stays a long time. Between two people, God teaches them to be like Him. “The last house is a special one. It’s called in. You might
out in the church, but only on Sundays. He says other
say, ‘invited.’ God always comes to live where He is invited.
days, He just watches from up in the clouds unless there is
That means He lives right here, in your heart and mine. He
a big decision to be made, then He makes it thunder and
said if anyone loves Him and listens to what He says, He
lightning to scare everybody.” “I’m not sure Bobby is right about that, Little Bit. You see, some people have different ideas about God. I don’t think all are the whole truth, but each could be a good hint.” “Daddy, where do you think God lives?” “I’m not sure I have a good answer. But the best I can tell, God has four houses. He lives in each house part of the time and all four all of the time.” “Can God do that, Daddy?” “I know it sounds hard to believe. As far as I can tell, it happens like this. God’s first house is called up above. Since God created the earth and the stars and you and me, His first house is in heaven. From up above, God watches over us. “His second house is called beside. God gave us two
will come and make His home with him. That means a home
gifts. One gift allows people to make choices. Some choose
in our hearts. In our hearts, God strengthens us when we’re
to follow God. He promised if we made this choice, He
weak and helps us understand difficult things.”
would be with us, right beside us. The second gift is a helper
“I get it, Daddy. God lives in each house part time
called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reminds us God is
because sometimes He has to come find us. But when we’re
beside us, especially when we forget. And that happens
there with Him in each house, He lives in them all the time.”
more than it should. From beside, God comforts us. “God’s third house is called between. God is love. Some people forget this, too. But because God is God, He
“What a smart young girl you are, Little Bit.” “Those who have ears to hear, let them hear” (Matthew 11:15).
loves us enough to be patient and wait for us to remember. people know how to love themselves. The hard part is
40 // November 2020
About The Author
He told us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Now, most
Deck Cheatham has been a golf professional for some 40 years. He lives with his family in Dalton. He is a guest columnist for the Rome News Tribune, The Daily Citizen, and the Calhoun Times. Email him at pgadeacon@gmail.com.
