The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"In the Light of His Face"
"Nothing changes the actual fact, however, which means we must believe and affirm the reality of our Lord's abiding presence in the face of anything that challenges our confidence."
God made human beings to be His spiritual habitation. Sin made this reason for existence impossible until the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished His redeeming work through the cross, the resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit to indwell all who believe. Thereby, we become the temples of God He made us to be. Believers "live in the Spirit," and are enabled to "walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). From a gaping spiritual void before faith - alienated from the life of God" - to a glorious spiritual presence after faith - "Christ liveth in me" - our Lord's grace provides the most wondrous blessing He could bestow, namely, the gift of Himself. "I will dwell in them and walk in them" (Ephesians 4:18; Galatians 2:20; II Corinthians 6:16)
Our response to such grace involves the challenge that we presently "walk by faith, not by sight' (II Corinthians 5:7). Certainly, we do not see the Lord within our spirits, nor do we always feel or think in accordance with this most wondrous truth. Much outward evidence even seems to contradict the truth of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Nothing changes the actual fact, however, which means we must believe and affirm the reality of our Lord's abiding presence in the face of anything that challenges our confidence. Indeed, the remembrance and affirmation by faith of how near our Lord has drawn changes our perspective of how we will face life, be it the enjoyment of blessings, the facing of challenges, or the experience of the everyday and the mundane.
We enjoy the blessings not only as gifts from Heaven, but with the Giver Himself present as the true Blessing of all blessings. We see Him by faith as not merely present in our challenges and troubles, but as "very present." We realize that the most ordinary moment actually teems with the life of God Himself (Philippians 4:19; 1:21; Psalm 46:1). Bells may not ring, bright lights may not flash, and troubles may not instantly flee away when we open our hearts to behold the ever present heart of God. However, something deep within us changes, from darkness to light, fear to peace, and a "hope of glory" that strengthens and assures our hearts (Colossians 1:27).
As one saint of old said to his Lord, "I can face anything, Lord, as long as I can see Your face by faith." That, believers can always do. Again, the view may not offer great pomp and circumstance. As with Elijah, faith most often involves not winds, earthquakes, and fires, but rather the still and the small (I Kings 19:11-12). However, we cannot possibly trust One who "cannot lie" and be disappointed for doing so. May the Lord open our eyes to see how near He has drawn, and how we can face anything in the light of His face…
"And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
(II Kings 6:15-17)
Weekly Memory Verse
Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
(Galatians 5:16)
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