“…come up in the morning unto Mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.” Exodus 34:2
Dear Ones:
Probably one of the great assets that Moses possessed, which propelled him forward to become the man he would become, was his thirst and consequent pursuit of God. There are those who would live in the littleness of “themselves,” always preoccupied with what they want, think, and can do. But there exists a vastness to the person of God, as revealed in Jesus Christ, which eclipses all that is of man, and it is a knowledge that is eternal. Where do we live, and what do we seek? Are we those, who like Moses, respond to the overtures of God to go UP in the morning, to meet Him? Is it possible to do so, and truly KNOW God in this manner?
In T. Bimney’s great hymn, “Eternal Light, Eternal Light,” he writes: “There is a way for man to rise to that sublime abode: An Offering and a Sacrifice, a Holy Spirit’s energies, An Advocate with God.” What is Blimney saying here? He is speaking of the offering and sacrifice of Christ in its magnitude, perfection, and unalterable character, which is the solid and sole basis for man to “rise” to meet God. It is that singular “WAY” by which man can come UP to meet God in the morning. But that WAY is only part of the reason, and motivation. There is the provision of “the Holy Spirit’s energies.” God not only calls us to come, provides the way by which we can come with assurance, but also, gives us the quickening energy, or power of the Holy Spirit to come. And then there is the great assurance that He provides, so that we can come with “clean hands and a pure heart,” boldly into His presence. This is because the Lord Jesus is our Advocate, that One who perfectly presents the righteousness of His perfect life in His blood, before the Father. The Father accepts us, poor and helpless though we be, as perfect in Christ, wholly accepted before and in the presence of the Father.
In Hebrews 4, a picture is given to us, one where the believer comes before the very throne of God, there to receive from God His mercy and “grace to help in time of need.” (v.16) Is our habit and discipline of life to COME to God in this manner? In Hebrews 10, we are called to come to God, even into the “holiest of all,” the place not only of acceptance before God, but primarily of communion WITH God. The “new and living way” has been provided, and we are to come “boldly,” without fear. Why? Not only is Jesus there as our Advocate, but He is revealed to us as our High Priest, that one who IS our intercessor before the Father. The Perfect Savior, and Intermediary, is that One who brings us into the presence of the Father. It is for this reason we can draw nigh to God in “full assurance of faith,” with a good conscience.
It was David who wrote: “O God, Thou art my God; EARLY will I seek Thee.” (Ps. 63:1) Moses would write in a complimentary manner: “O satisfy us EARLY with Your mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” (Ps. 90:14) Both men were seekers of God in the right way, and they did so EARLY. That was the priority of their lives. They became great men, not because they sought to be so, but because their pursuit of God eclipsed all else. God in Christ became the object, means, and essence of their living. They lived to know and commune with Him, to come up to Him on the top of the mountain, above all that is of earth. This is where they chose to dwell in their hearts, in fellowship with God.
Father, give us to have as the great priority of life, to seek thee…and this early, the first thing. Enable us to understand this new and living way, grasp the reality of our Advocate and High Priest, and to come boldly unto Your throne of grace to receive mercy, and truly find grace to help in time of need. We thank and praise Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad