Dear Ones:
The Apostle Paul writes that with regard to the true appearance of Christ, that “face to face” meeting which we will have, that we “…NOW see through a glass, darkly.” (1 Cor. 13:12) Not only is His glory shielded from our eyes, but in essence, we barely see, or perceive Him. The Lord told Moses with respect to the revelation of His glory, “…Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Ex. 33:20) This is simply because for the unbeliever the sight of God in His holiness cannot be endured for fear of judgement. For the believer, he has not the intellectual or emotional capacity to contain the revelation of the perfect beauty, and goodness of God. It is simply too much. So, what does God do for Moses…and in some respects, do for us…”I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by.” (v.22) Our vision of God is darkness compared to the brightness of His revealed glory. What did Moses see? “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”(34:6) In doing this He made “all His goodness” to pass before him. Moses tasted of heaven that day, for he tasted of the goodness and mercy of God…howbeit, through a glass darkly.
What of us? We are not Moses. On this side of the Cross, and Pentecost, we have what Paul writes to give us direction: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them UNTO US by His Spirit….we have received the Spirit which is of God, that we might KNOW the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Cor. 2:9,10,12) We have within our hearts that “…Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Christ).” (Eph. 1:17) Why is it that Christ is not a greater reality to our hearts, and the revelation of heaven’s glory an overwhelming delight of our souls? Maybe it is because we do not seek, truly seek the Lord. When God gave to Israel the Tabernacle, it was so that any individual could come and seek the Lord, the Lord’s way, for His glory. In speaking of the continual burnt offering, the mercy-seat of the altar, and the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, He said, “…and there I will meet with the children of Israel…” (Ex. 29:43) As for the individual, and the personal seeking of the Lord, Moses wrote: “….And it came to pass, that EVERY ONE which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation…” (33:7) God made provision for the revelation of Himself to the seeking and worshipful heart. This reality has not changed since that day, only it has been magnified.’
The Spirit of God has been given to us in Pentecostal power, to reveal the things of Christ to us. Paul instructs us to “…seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1) If it were not possible to “ascend” by faith, to that throne of Grace, then why would we be instructed to SEEK? The promise is that if we seek, we shall find. Find what? We shall find Christ, the highest blessing of heaven. We shall taste and see that he is altogether good, and there is none like Him…Indeed, He far exceeds in His beauty, His holiness and goodness, all that we could ever imagine on earth. It is by the Spirit that, as we worship in Spirit and truth, we discover afresh every day something of heaven, for we discover something of Christ.
Dear Father, grant us this Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Thy Son. Enable us to taste and see that the Lord is good, by seeing His (Thy) glory. And even though our sight is so small, and the eyes of our hearts so dim, reveal to us the things of Christ, and strengthen our hearts to receive them, that His Life and love will be known through us, as we worship and serve Thee on this earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Love, Dad