Psalm 27:4-5 – One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.” Some of you may remember a famous scene from the movie City Slickers where Jack Palance is playing an old cowboy sage (Curly) and Billy Crystal is playing a city slicker (Mitch) who has come to a dude ranch where the two meet. In this scene Curly tells Mitch what he considers the secret to life. He lifts up his index finger tells Mitch that the secret is do one thing. Only one thing. Mitch then asks him what is the one thing? Curly tells him that is what he needs to find out for himself. That, for me, and many others, was a wow moment.
I believe the Lord used it that scene to create an epiphany for me. I can picture King David talking to a young man who is asking him what the secret of life is. King David would look at him and tell him about this Psalm. He would tell the young man that nothing and no-one is more beautiful than God and His love for us. King David would look deeply in the younger man’s eyes, and say with all solemnity and with fire in his own eyes, that we can tell what we love the most by what we most do not want to lose. He would tell the young man that for him, it is that he never wants to be out of the presence of God. For King David to not live with God’s Holy Spirit would be something that he could not bear. (Psalm 51:11) Then King David would look at the young man and say “So, my friend, what is the one thing in your life that you cannot live without? If it is anything other than God, than the day may come that you will have to live without it, or him, or her. But if it is God, Him you can have and never lose.”
One thing. Curly told Mitch to find the one thing that will satisfy his life. Like it is different for different people. But that is not true. It is true that the secret is “one thing,” but the truth is, the “one thing” is the same for everyone. The “One Thing” is God. Only He, once received, will never leave, will never die and cannot be taken away. (Romans 8:38) Many say there is no such thing as a “sure thing.” But that is wrong. God is a sure thing. We all need to decide if we want the sure thing, the one thing that is Jesus, or if we want the uncertain things that ultimately lead to, if not changed, eternal regret and eternal pain. I thank God for all of you who personally know and cling to the universal One whom we can never lose and who will never cast us away. (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus is the true lover of our souls. In this life it is never too late to come to Jesus. I truly, with all my heart, hope you do. God is good. He loves us. I am so thankful! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”