“When you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain.” Exodus 3:12
Dear Ones:
How real is Jesus Christ to you? The issue of the personal revelation of Christ to the heart is a central theme throughout the Bible. The knowledge of God is the highest of pursuits and goals in life, in particular that which is not only according to the truth, but that which is communicated to us by the Spirit of Truth. From the days of Adam’s communion with the Lord Jesus in the Garden of Eden, to the admonition to the Laodicean church, mentioned in the book of Revelation, the reality and revelation to the heart of the person of Christ to the believer, is the very essence of Life.
In the gospel of Luke, we find where the Lord Jesus had given the disciples the power to cast out demons. The disciples were rejoicing in that the “demons were subject to them.” It is to this declaration that the Lord says to them: “…rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (10:20) What is the Lord seeking to communicate to the disciples? All on this earth is subservient, or of lesser importance, than the experience of God’s presence, forever in heaven. All through Scripture, and in particular in the Gospels, the Lord is constantly speaking about Life. This Life is the very Life of God in Christ by the Spirit. It is singularly of great worth, as it possesses the quality and characteristic of being eternal, unending, unchanging, and undiminished.
After Moses accepted the call of God to go back to Egypt to bring the people out of the land, we find him again at Mt. Sinai, or Horeb, the place where he had been called by God, out of the burning bush. This time Moses is called by God to come up upon Mt. Sinai, to receive for the second time, the ten commandments on tablets of stone. Moses will ask of God at this time: “I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.” (Ex. 33:19) God will grant Moses’ prayer, and he will SEE the glory of God, the very unveiling of His nature and character. Covering Moses with His hand, God will make “all of His goodness pass before Moses,” specifically fulfilling His promise to Moses. Moses will worship God on Sinai, and God will reveal His glory to Moses. Moses’ greatest reward in answering the call of God was NOT the success that he had in bringing the people out of Egypt, neither all that he did in the form of signs, works, and victories won. It was the personal revelation of God in Christ, to the heart of Moses, that his heart will be completely filled, and satisfied. Moses had been created for that moment, and for that purpose.
When Jesus addressed the church at Laodicea in the book of Revelation, He did so in order to reveal to the believers His glory. In much the same way, He extended to them an invitation to KNOW Him, to experience His life, to literally have communion with the true and living, eternal God. The promise was clear and certain: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I WILL come in to him, and WILL sup with him, and he with Me.” (3:20)
In light of the certainty of such great reward, is it not time today to trust God for the thorough cleansing of our hearts, minds, souls, spirits, and bodies? Christ took upon Himself ALL of our sin, so that we should know the reality of thorough cleansing and forgiveness. Secondly, is it not time today to trust God for the fresh anointing of His Spirit, the satisfying of our hearts early with His mercy? Jesus rose from the dead so that we should be filled today, everyday, with the Spirit and power of the resurrection.
Dear Father, open our eyes to see the immensity of the promise, and give us grace to trust You for it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad