The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Presence"
Wherever we go in this day or forevermore, God awaits born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as the greatest reality of our destination. Moreover, He will accompany us in our journey as His greatest gift to us is presence.
"I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20).
Of course, we do not see, hear, or touch this reality in our present existence. "We walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7). The reality abides no less, even as innumerable physical realities (atoms), unseen and unperceived, comprise our physical bodies. The redeeming work of the Lord Jesus through the cross, resurrection, and ascension made possible His gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit to all who believe. In the new birth, the God whom "the heaven of heavens cannot contain" somehow imparts His presence into the very depths of the Christian's innermost being. "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts" (II Chronicles 6:18; Galatians 4:6). He made humanity for this immanence to serve as the very Life of our lives. Through Christ, such glorious purpose becomes the gracious presence that abides with us always, regardless of our perception of it (Him).
"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).
Remembering the truth and availing ourselves of its hope both blesses and challenges us. We do not consciously think of the fact always, nor do we continually sense God's presence. Much of our experience may even seem to belie the truth as our Lord may sometimes seem far away. He never is, of course, but the "seem" can sorely tempt us in times of difficulty and perplexity. We must often "awake to righteousness" by remembering and affirming that God is near, God is hear, and He also promises an even greater assurance…
"I will dwell in them and walk in them" (I Corinthians 15:34; II Corinthians 6:16; emphasis added).
An active Holy Spirit dwells within us, the One who "moved upon the face of the waters" in the physical act of creation, and the One who moves within the hearts of the spiritual "new creature" we are in Christ (Genesis 1:2; II Corinthians 5:17). This we must believe, first because it is true, and then because even as we walk by faith rather than sight, we will be more aware of our Lord's presence and working as we believe. At times, that awareness may seem but a mustard seed of faith. However, that will be enough to guide us in peace through the promise of His presence, His active presence.
The day will come when "we shall see Him as He is," and when the fact of His indwelling will be far more known within us (I John 3:2). Until then, we walk by faith and the remembrance of the most marvelous of all gifts freely given in Christ. Presence. The presence of God. With us. Within us. Wonder of all wonders, grace of all grace, and the very Life of our lives.
"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
(I John 4:16)
Weekly Memory Verse
O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy.
(Psalm 43:3-4)
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