On Wednesday night at our Fresh Encounter Prayer time, Pastor Marco ledus in praising God for His presence. This morning as I was considering the importance of God’s Divine Presence I wanted to share a few thoughts with you.
Ps. 8: 3-6 tells us that God created us in His image to rule and to reveal.“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.”
It is clear from this passage that mankind has been destined to rule as stewards over God’s creation but it is equally clear that because we have been created in God’s image we are to reveal His glory.
It would not be possible to rule and reveal if it were not for the Father’s Divine Presence.
God’s presence was promised to His people. We read in Ex. 33: 14: “And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Most certainly this is the defining difference between true Christians and non-Christians. If there is evidence of God’s presence in our life, then truly we are His children but if not, then we really are not His.
Paul expressed this thought in Romans 8: 29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Those who have never been born again have never been conformed to the image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
When we examine our lives, what do we see? Is there evidence of Christ living in us? Is there evidence of His presence?
The Believer’s life must give off a Christ-like fragrance. “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” II Cor.2: 14-15.
As an outdoorsman this verse reminds me of times when I have walked through my woods and encountered the fragrance of life from the trees and the leaves. It is such a good smell. But there are also times when I have experienced the fragrance of death in the woods. A dead animal lying on the ground for severaldays, gives off an aroma of death.
So then, if we truly are God’s children, we carry the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ wherever we go because His divine presence has been promised to us and lives within us through the power and the person of the Holy Spirit.
The most common Hebrew term for "presence" is panim [yIn'P], which isalso translated "face." The implication is: a close and personal encounter with the Lord. For the faithful, who exhibit His presence on earth, one day we will experience His presence in an eternal way and Herein is our hope:
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” I John 3: 2.
Thank you Lord for your presence today and the promise of your presence into eternity.
Will Longenecker
11/15/2013
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