Tag Archives: seeing God face to face

THE INCENSE, THE CLOUD AND THE VEIL… Exodus 30:1-10, 33:7-11, 34:29-35

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Remember that gruesome scene in the film, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, where the evil Nazi opens the cover to the Ark of the Covenant, totally melting in the presence of God?  Made quite a mess of himself through his pride and arrogance!

As gripping as that scene is, it tells a tale of warning to all humanity.   Seek to be in the presence of Almighty God?  Be careful.   All hell could break loose.  I’ve been reading the Book of Exodus for my devotions.  Led me to think about three instances recorded by Moses.  The incense, the cloud and the veil.  All three of them keep God’s being at a distance from his people.  To separate us from Him.

Incense fills the air with thick smoke.  The cloud is filled with God’s glory but blocks vision of the Almighty.  The veil was used by Moses to cover his head and face, which glowed and glimmered after he had spent time with Yahweh God.  The people would not see the reflection of the Lord on Moses’ face.  Covered…for none to see.  But why?  What’s the point?

I’ve been mulling over these thoughts in my mind.  Why not see God face-to-face?  What’s so bad, after all?  Could this have gone back to what happened in the Garden of Eden?  Paradise lost.  Eden left behind.  Due to the sin of both Adam and Eve.  We’ll forget the blame-game they played.  The finger-pointing.  The ‘He made me’, ‘She made me’ excuses.  The equality of sin.

The ‘Fall of Mankind’ has left an indelible print of death on each of us.  No mistaking it as we look around at the fallen world we live in.  Or as we honestly gaze in the mirror of our own lives.  What do you see?   Sin-scarred, we are in grave danger if we find ourselves in the presence of God, who is holy and true through-and through.  We would melt away.  Evaporate.   A soul, forever separated from the God who created us.

God knows all about our being made of clay, soil and dust.  Fragile materials at best.  Here’s where the incense, the cloud and the veil come in.  They are His mercy.  His protection from harm that His presence may bring.  What seems unreasonable and unnecessary, is actually His love and care for us.

What God wants is our trust.  I’m going to thank Him today that I can’t see Him directly!  Sounds odd to say.  But it’s true–He’s protecting me.   But there will come a day, in eternity, when we’ll know the truth of 1 Corinthians 13: 12–‘For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face…'(KJV).  What a day that will be!  Amen?

Prayer:  Holy God, we bow before you in humility.   In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

AIN’T LIFE GRAND!… Revelation 22:4-5

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I can still hear my Nana Gibson saying, ‘Ain’t life grand!’  She’s been gone many years now.   In the Lord, our life certainly is grand!

But just you wait, and that’s not for Henry Higgins either…just you wait!  The Apostle John writes in the book of Revelation that ‘they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads’ (22:4).  Go ahead and read that whole last chapter of Revelation, and be utterly amazed at the wonders that await.   We’ll see Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Face-to-face.  We’ll be with them forever with no more tears, good-byes, failed hearing or eyesight.  None of that anymore.

‘They will see His face…’  Really?  What Moses had hoped and prayed for way back in Exodus 33:12-23?  “Moses said, ‘Please show me your glory.  And God said, ‘I will  make all  my goodness pass before you…I will be gracious…and will show mercy…but you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.'”   The Lord God showed Moses His character of love and mercy, compassion and forgiveness, but…’you shall see my back…my face shall not be seen.’  Not His face, not His being, but He will show His character.

That reminds me of what Jesus said about knowing people by their  fruit(Luke 6:43-45), and His half-brother James saying that ‘faith without works is dead(James 2:17).  Believers and followers, not by the labels on our lapels, but from what comes out of them, from deep within.  The Lord as well.  We know Him by His character and makeup of love, compassion, mercy, joy…

God has always been most generous in showing the whole world the ‘fruit’ of His being.  It’s there for all to see and wonder at.  But His face…now that will be for a special group.  For His children, those who say ‘yes’ to His invitation to know and love Him through the death and resurrection of His only Son Jesus Christ.  Is that you?  Have you asked Him into your life?  If not or you’re not sure, ask Him.  He’d love to love you forever.  I know that.  He even loves me!  And then some day, we’ll see Him…face to face…and that’s something you can’t quite put into words this side of glory…for that’s what it will be.  Glory!

 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for better days ahead.  Someday we’ll be with you in glory, face-to-face.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.