The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 20:18-19,
"When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.'"
We all have our own perspectives of what God is like, how we might find him to be if and when we come into his presence. Of course, following this life, we know we shall all appear before him. In Romans 14:10-11 we read, "We will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: '"As surely as I live," says the Lord, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God."'"
There have been those, however, who have had contact with God in this life. Moses was one of those. All Israel, save Moses, stayed at the foot of Mt. Sinai when Moses when up the mountain to meet with the Lord when he received the law from him. Although they kept their distance from God, they nevertheless "trembled with fear" as the Lord made his presence within their vicinity.
Something about the Lord's presence is frightening, terrifying. Surely a part of that response is due to a certain felt "difference" an "otherliness" when sinful man has an encounter of any proximity with the pristine moral purity, clarity and perfection of God's nature. Isaiah felt that very thing when he was commissioned by the Lord to be his prophet. As a reaction to his vision of the Lord, Isaiah exclaimed, "'Woe to me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'" Isaiah 6:5.
I am quite certain I would find myself terrified were I to come into the Lord's presence in one fashion or another in this life. However, because of Jesus Christ, and what he has done for us, I have a confidence I could not know any other way. In a wonderful passage from the writer of Hebrews, we have great encouragement in this regard, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16.
Following this life, as referenced above in Romans 14:10-11, when we stand before God, there will be great cause for celebration. In Jude 24-25 we read, "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!"
"When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.'"
We all have our own perspectives of what God is like, how we might find him to be if and when we come into his presence. Of course, following this life, we know we shall all appear before him. In Romans 14:10-11 we read, "We will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: '"As surely as I live," says the Lord, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God."'"
There have been those, however, who have had contact with God in this life. Moses was one of those. All Israel, save Moses, stayed at the foot of Mt. Sinai when Moses when up the mountain to meet with the Lord when he received the law from him. Although they kept their distance from God, they nevertheless "trembled with fear" as the Lord made his presence within their vicinity.
Something about the Lord's presence is frightening, terrifying. Surely a part of that response is due to a certain felt "difference" an "otherliness" when sinful man has an encounter of any proximity with the pristine moral purity, clarity and perfection of God's nature. Isaiah felt that very thing when he was commissioned by the Lord to be his prophet. As a reaction to his vision of the Lord, Isaiah exclaimed, "'Woe to me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'" Isaiah 6:5.
I am quite certain I would find myself terrified were I to come into the Lord's presence in one fashion or another in this life. However, because of Jesus Christ, and what he has done for us, I have a confidence I could not know any other way. In a wonderful passage from the writer of Hebrews, we have great encouragement in this regard, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16.
Following this life, as referenced above in Romans 14:10-11, when we stand before God, there will be great cause for celebration. In Jude 24-25 we read, "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!"
Those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith will stand before the Judge in great joy! In confidence of the credentials we hold, the standing of God's own Son with the Father that is ours, it can only lead to this great joy! No trembling in fear - only a loving embrace from our Creator who has given us the greatest riches anyone can have: the righteousness of Jesus Christ himself!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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