Why we seek His presence...

Think of a Bible story where the presence of God manifested on earth. Got it? What happened to the people involved? Was there power and revelation involved? I think every time God shows up, it comes with power and revelation which communicate His heart.

Just so we are all on the same page, let’s discuss Moses meeting with God on the mountain (Ex. 20-34). Certainly there was power occurring here. There were so many physical effects of the unseen world invading ours: thunder, lighting, fire, smoke… crazy stuff! Moses' face even glowed! All this could seem excessive, but Moses cried out for this. I don’t think he wanted more smoke in his eyes; yet, he said, show me your glory, Lord, and don’t send me anywhere without it (Ex. 33:15)!

Why? Obviously, the value of this encounter was not the fire or the smoke (though that would have got my attention). Even the glow on Moses’ face faded. The lasting impact was the revelation of the Lord who is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth” (Ex. 34:6-7). This moment of revelation enabled Moses to walk in friendship with God! It gave him the confidence he needed to do what God was calling him to do! In this case, power flowed and created physical writing on tablets. As the two talked and exchanged life together, intimacy was established and miracles continued to follow Moses in his ministry. All that Moses needed flowed from the presence of God, who is our great provider.

Whether we know it or not, we want God. How could we not, when everything good comes from Him (James 1:17)? Yet, the goodness of who He is cannot be obtained by study or even good Christian tradition. It must be experienced and every person of great faith knew this. David says in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to meditate in His temple.”

The writer of Hebrews says the same to us: “Today, if you hear His voice”… don’t walk away from God’s presence like Israel did (Heb. 3:8-11). Today, know there is a “rest of God” waiting for you as you encounter His presence. Today, let’s believe there is power available to experience something different -- a connection with God that provides for and changes us. This is what Jesus paid for (Eph. 1:19)! In fact, the apostle Paul says in 2 Cor. 3:8 that we should expect something greater than the glory Moses experienced on the mountain! Wow! The glory on that mountain brought physical manifestations, yes, but the real treasure was the reality of the kingdom Moses began to step into. Our experience is from the Holy Spirit, and it happens when we see Him -- not on a mountain, but with the eyes of our heart (2 Cor. 3:18).

Today, as you consider your relationship with God, I encourage you to ask Him to give you a manifestation of His presence. Pray "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16). Confess your need of power! Confess your need of revelation to know something that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:17)! If we want to move from point A to point B in our faith journey (glory to glory), we need the presence of God through His Holy Spirit. Go ahead, taste and see that the Lord is good!