Enjoying the Present with the Presence

The shaft of the arrow of time is the present. It is the present that holds the past (fletching) together with the future (arrowhead). It is the present that is a gift from God. That’s why it is called the present. This is the time that we have to go with the Lord from the past into the future. Let’s go.

No Promise Verse, Only God

Years ago a young missionary had to flee from western China. An infuriated mob hotly pursued him. He hastily boarded a river boat. The mob, too, came on the boat. Then he jumped into the river. The mob began to throw spears at him. Miraculously he escaped, unharmed. When he was telling of the ordeal later, a friend asked him, “What verse from the Bible came to you as you were darting beneath the boat to escape the spears of the mob?” “Verse?” he asked in astonishment, “why, the Lord Himself was with me!”

Exodus 33:12 (NIV) Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, `Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, `I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." 14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" 17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." 18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." 19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." 21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

Key verse: v.14 “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.”

As you go: One key to enjoying the presence of the Lord is to go with Him. How can you know the Lord, if you aren’t going together down the road of life?

As you go: Be assured that the Lord wants to go with you and He wants to give you rest for your labor. The Lord wants to reveal Himself and He wants you to know Him.

As you go: God will be made known to all those who see your progress with the Lord. This is the distinguishing factor between the people of God and those who don’t know Him. As we go people will see who we are because we have given ourselves to the Lord and to go with Him.

As you go: You will see the glory of the Lord as He passes before you. You will see his glory in all of his goodness. You will see the Lord’s glory proclaimed in His and Name (all that He stands for). You will the Lord’s glory as He has mercy on whomever he chooses.

As you go: You must stand on the rock and have the Lord’s hand upon you so that you may enjoy the presence of the Lord and experience his glory.

As you go: Are you going with the Lord? This is the only way to enjoy the presence of the Lord.

As you go: Are you standing on the Rock of Christ Jesus? Are you trusting in His promises and giving your life to him in all that you do and say? Are the decisions you make based on the fact that you are a child of God? Is you life following the directions that the Lord has chosen for you?

^[1]Tan, P. L. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : [A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers]. Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979.