Zechariah 8:3
“Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell
in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of
truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.”
Have you ever been in a place where someone’s presence changed the
atmosphere? President Wilson told a story about someone whose presence
changed the atmosphere of a barber shop. He said that he walked into the
barbershop and took the chair next to D.L. Moody. At the time, he did
not know it was Moody, but he noticed there was something very different
about the man. President Wilson said that the conversation about the
LORD changed the atmosphere so much that “It made an impression upon me I
have not yet forgotten.”
One great need today are for Christians who are
atmosphere-changers. It may seem impossible for your presence to change
an atmosphere, but the verse above shows that it can be done if you will
dwell in the midst of God. God’s presence in the midst of Jerusalem
changed the atmosphere of that city. God’s presence will also change the
atmosphere when He dwells in the midst of a Christian’s life. Why?
Because God is an atmosphere-changer. When a Christian dwells in the
midst of God, four attributes will be evident in their life.
First, truth will be the trademark of your life when you dwell in
the midst of God. The Christian who doesn't mind trimming the truth will
find a void of God’s presence in their life. If you want the atmosphere
of wherever you go to positively change, you must be a person who
believes that the truth must always be told. God will not be present in a
place of lies, but He feels at home in the Christian’s life who always
tells the truth.
Second, holiness will be the goal of the Christian who dwells in
the midst of God. You can't expect God’s presence to be in the midst of
your life when you are identifying more with the world than with Him.
The Christian who wants to dwell in the midst of God must come out from
the world to God. They won't try to bring God down to man’s level;
rather, they will try to raise their manner of living to God’s level.
Third, verse 4 shows that respect for authority will be the result
of the Christian who dwells in the midst of God. Your respect for those
who are your authorities shows your respect of God. Sometimes your
authorities will be younger than you, but if you dwell in the midst of
God it won’t matter. It’s not a matter of their age; it is a matter of
the position they hold. Dwelling in the midst of God removes all
quandaries with authority because you will be right with the highest
authority.
Fourth, verse 5 shows that an enjoyment of life will be the result
of the Christian who dwells in the midst of God. One of the
characteristics I have always observed of those who are close to God is
one of a total enjoyment of life. Their spirit is a happy spirit. Their
enjoyable attitude tends to change the atmosphere wherever they
frequent. When a Christian dwells in the midst of God, you will find
their attitude will become one that is enjoyable to be around.
Friend, these four attributes are imperative if you are going to be
a person whose presence changes the atmosphere wherever you go. You
will be a better life-changer when you become an atmosphere-changer.
This only happens when you dwell in the midst of God.