Sacred spaces aren’t defined by architecture, age, or beauty—they’re defined by purpose and presence. Pastor Dustin Hanson reminds us that from Eden to the Tabernacle to the Church today, God intentionally creates places where He meets with His people. And now, through His Spirit, we have become the sacred spaces where His presence dwells, His purpose unfolds, and His glory is revealed.
When Holy Places Become Empty Rooms
A few years ago, CNN published a striking story titled “Inside Europe’s Stunning Abandoned Churches.” French photographer Francis Medlet spent a decade capturing forgotten sanctuaries across France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Portugal.
Once-vibrant churches—filled with worship, prayer, and community—are now being converted into bars, homes, shops, or left to crumble. He wrote:
“Many of the churches have, evidently, been neglected for years. But others look as if they have only recently been deserted, their painted walls still oddly vibrant, their seats arranged as if awaiting the next congregation.”
It’s haunting…
And it raises a deeper question that speaks directly to believers in the North Cities region of Dallas—Garland, Plano, Richardson, McKinney, Allen, Wylie, and beyond:
What makes a space sacred?
God Is the Designer of Sacred Space
From the beginning, God has been intentional about place.
Genesis 2:8
“The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man…”
God planted Eden.
God placed Adam.
God walked there.
Mark 1:35
Jesus “departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”
“There” matters.
Place matters.
Sacred spaces are chosen, intentional, and purposeful.
In North Dallas and throughout Collin and Dallas counties, we create sacred spaces every time we make room for God—our homes, our churches, our quiet moments of prayer.
The Tabernacle — God at the Center of Everything
Exodus 25:8
“Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.”
God didn’t leave sacred space up to human creativity.
He designed it.
He placed it.
He filled it.
The Tabernacle wasn’t just a tent—it was a visual declaration:
God belongs at the center.
Of the camp.
Of our homes.
Of our lives.
Every tribe in Israel arranged itself around the presence of God.
In the North Cities area, that’s still His design. Our worship, our rhythms, our decisions, and our identity must be centered on His presence.
When Sacred Spaces Become Casual — The Warning of Uzziah
In 2 Chronicles 26, Uzziah began as a faithful king… until pride made him careless.
He entered the temple to burn incense—something only priests were permitted to do.
The issue wasn’t incense.
The issue was identity and boundary.
He treated a sacred space like common ground. And it cost him everything.
Sacred spaces require sacred stewardship.
We cannot casually approach what God has declared holy.
Why Sacred Spaces Still Matter Today
1. Sacred spaces have a dedicated purpose.
God sets them apart to accomplish His plan.
Eden had a purpose.
The Tabernacle had a purpose.
Your life has a purpose.
When we dilute or distort that purpose, things unravel.
2. Sacred spaces are places of divine encounter.
God meets us in places He has designed:
• Eden
• The wilderness Tabernacle
• The Temple
• The Upper Room
• The Church today
A sacred space is not about location—it’s about interaction with the presence of God.
The Church — God’s New Sacred Space in North Dallas
Ephesians 2:22
“You too are being built together to become a dwelling place for God’s Spirit.”
The Church is no longer bricks, stone, or stained glass—it’s God’s people in Garland, Plano, Richardson, McKinney, and beyond.
The Church is the sacred space where:
• People encounter God
• Lives are restored
• Identity is reshaped
• Purpose is revealed
And every Sunday, every prayer meeting, every quiet moment becomes a place God fills.
Your Body — A Living Temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:19–20
“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit… you are not your own.”
You are not common.
You are consecrated.
You are sacred space.
This reality shapes:
• Where we go
• What we watch
• Who we allow into our lives
• How we speak
• How we worship
We are called not to blend in—but to stand out as holy people in a very secular world.
A Sacred Reflection — Is Jesus at Home in You?
2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves… do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?”
This is the heart of the message:
If Jesus walked into your life today…
Would He feel at home in every room?
In your habits?
In your private thoughts?
In your entertainment?
In your conversations?
This is not condemnation. It is an invitation to realign yourself with the purpose and presence of God.
Because you are not your own. You were bought with blood. You are sacred space.
Live as a Sacred Space in a Secular World
Jesus said:
“I am with you… but I shall be in you.”
Paul said:
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
This is the greatest identity you could ever carry in North Dallas or anywhere in the world:
You are a sacred space.
His presence fills you.
His purpose shapes you.
His glory shines through you.
Live so that He feels at home in every part of your life.
