VISITATION, TRANSFORMATION, HABITATION

“…because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
Luke 19:44
“…I will prepare him an habitation.”
Exodus 15:2
…”thou hast guided [them] in thy strength
unto thy holy habitation.”
Exodus 15:13

Certainly there is a vast difference between having a guest to visit and having them move in for good! If a guest is coming to visit, you may make a few modifications to accommodate their needs. However, permanent occupancy requires major renovations.
When God comes to visit, His ultimate goal is that we will allow Him to take up permanent residency in our lives. He will visit us with His love, healing, deliverance, miracles, signs and wonders. The joy of the visitation should be so impacting that it should cause a transformation in the way we think and the way we live. His visitation should cause us to experience the baptism of repentance and live in a way that will please Him.
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the Bible says he began to weep (Luke 19:41). He wept because the people failed to perceive the time of their visitation. He worked signs wonders and miracles before their very eyes and yet they failed to acknowledge that He was their Messiah. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we find the people wanted the blessings and rewards of His visitation but failed to allow the transforming power of His presence to be effectual in their lives. Many only followed him for the fish and loaves, but went right back to their old way of living.
The song of Moses in Exodus 15 gives great insight into the correct response to God’s visitation. Moses experienced the very presence of God which resulted in his desire to ‘prepare a habitation’ for the Lord by obeying His commandments and statutes. A habitation is a ‘dwelling place or an abode.’ It also means ‘to be decorous or becoming.’ In essence, Moses was saying, “I want to prepare a place for you to dwell; a place for you to sit down and rest and a place that is becoming for a holy and righteous God.” A visitation should result in transformation. Just as Jesus told the woman, “Go, and sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14). We should not squander a visitation by reverting back to sinful habits and actions, but live in a manner that will welcome the presence of a holy God. We must allow His word to transform us into His image. When we create a habitation for the Lord by living a holy life, God will lead us to HIS habitation! We can then abide in His very presence. Oh, the glory of His abiding presence!
Cherish each visitation by allowing His presence to transform you. The transformation will create the environment for Him to make his habitation in your heart and in your life!