Before God’s Face

Before God’s Face

“Here before God’s face we stand, youth so full of hope” J. O. Smith writes in song number 218 in Ways of the Lord. That’s how it should be for all of us—young and old, in sweet communion. It is in this place, with pure hearts, that we can behold the glory of the Lord and be transformed into the image that we see. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8. When my whole desire is to behold this glory before God’s face, the desire to carry out His will is awakened, and I am transformed bit by bit, driven by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:18.

When Abram had been separated from Lot, God said to him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward.” Gen. 13:14. Abram saw the vast land that lay open and available to him. Abram made the right choice by moving his tents to the terebinth trees of Mamre in Hebron and building an altar to the Lord there. V. 18. At this altar, Abram received a meeting place with God, and here God showed him what he needed to sacrifice. Lot, on the other hand, journeyed with his tents as far as Sodom.

God also said to Jeremiah: “Jeremiah, what do you see?” Jer. 1:11. Jeremiah saw a branch of the almond tree, and God confirmed that he had seen well. God would watch [margin] over His word and fulfill it. As a result, Jeremiah girded up his loins and stood up and spoke to the people all that the Lord commanded him.

Let us now, as the darkness of night descends upon our earth, heed Jesus’ exhortation to look up and lift up our heads, because our redemption draws near. Let examples like those of Abram and Jeremiah influence us to make the right choices. Do not pitch your tents close beside the world (Sodom)—there is only corruption to be found! But instead build an altar to the Lord where you are and where you stand. God will meet you here and reveal His will for you. He will show us the way, and point out sacrifices in our lives that will lead us to glory and to being conformed to the image of the Son. We should also proclaim this where we are and in our homes, to our children and grandchildren, as Jeremiah did. Then they, too, will see the branch of the almond tree, the Word manifested in the flesh—also in us.

David writes: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” Ps. 34:4-6.

May God give us grace now in the end times, that this darkness of night does not influence and destroy our heavenly vision, but that in the end, when everything here on earth is over, we can look up to Him and not blush with shame.