Hot, humid, steamy and sweaty are just a few of the words to describe today. It was one of those days you stick to everything you touch. As the sun set this evening it was huge and bright reddish-orange as it lowered into the summer haze. It was so beautiful it made you want to look at it. But even through the haze it was too bright to look. I found myself trying to see it with my peripheral vision. I did not want to miss it but I knew it was harmful to look directly into it. I remembered one of my favorite childhood Bible stories. It is found in Exodus 33.
Moses asked to see God’s glory. “But God said, ‘You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.’ And the LORD said, ‘Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.'”
I used to think that meant we would never see God’s face. But of course God was speaking about humans in our sinful state. Someday that will be all cared for. Paul writes in I Corinthians 15 that this corruption will be replaced with incorruption. Then the words of Jesus will come true. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” The brightness of His glory will be one of our rewards. The gift is not merely eternal life. That by itself could be a curse. It is a blessing because it comes with a vast array of delights.
Written by Roger Bothwell on August 18, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org