Last weeks’ email concluded with the question: Why should I seek God’s presence when the Bible says He will never leave me nor forsake me? Isn’t HE with me? Aren’t I in HIS presence continually as a child of God? Well, here are a few more thoughts about face time with God.
So we ask, “Isn’t God’s presence always with us?”
The answer is “yes” and “no.”
Here’s the “yes, He’s with us” side of things. Since God is omnipresent He is always with us . . . He is around us. He is at hand. He’s not absent but present. In this sense, His presence is always with us. Also, since the days of Abraham when God made covenant with His people – to be with them – He has always been with them . . . us He is working on “His” people’s behalf. He loves doing so. God wants to be actively involved with His people.
But there is another sense in which God’s presence is not always with us and it is for this reason that the Bible repeatedly calls us to seek the Lord . . . to seek His presence continually. (1)
As one man said, “God’s presence is not our constant experience.” There are times and seasons when we become neglectful of God. We give Him no thought. We pay Him no attention. We don’t put our trust in Him. We ignore Him. We draw away from active relationship with Him. Some even allow their hearts to harden toward Him . . . all of this for a variety of reasons, excuses or explanations.
When we allow this to happen in our lives, that is when we will not recognize His presence. For all we know, He’s not around because it sure seems that way. And that’s OUR problem. He’s not moved, we have. The result is painful. We deem Him “not present” and conclude that He’s not as great, beautiful, awesome, valuable, powerful, etc. as the Bible says . . . and . . . and . . .
His face is hidden behind the closed door of our own doing. In this closed off environment we must act quickly and decisively or we will live life in and by our own will, strength and wisdom. And ultimately that has disastrous consequences.
The writer of Lamentations gives the solution to all who want to restore face time with God.
Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven. (2)
It’s simple and straight forward. Remember the “closed door” comment above? The Lord loves to knock on that door . . . and we get to answer the knock! When we do so and open the door, what comes next is pure face time with God!
Look! I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door,
I will come in,
And we will share a meal together as friends. (3)
God bless your face time!
–Pastor John
(1) – 1 Chronicles 16:11
(2) – Lamentations 3:40
(3) – Revelation 3:20