HIDDEN IN CHRIST

[Albert Finch]

"Then Moses said, 'Now show me Your glory.' 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. But,' he said, 'you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.'
"Then the LORD said, 'There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. 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. Then I will remove My hand and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen'" (Exodus 33:18-34:1 NIV).

 

Though He hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and passed by to where Moses only saw His back, was it not possible that even then this was a shadow of Christ, the Rock, the New Testament example of the Lord revealing His glory through Christ?

In fact, as Believers in Christ, we each represent God's glory on this earth, because of who Christ is in each of us, as Colossians 1:27 (ASV) states: "to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

We are "hidden in Christ," and that, because of Him, we are seated in heavenly places (see Colossians 3:3 and Ephesians 2:6)! God is hiding us right now in the cleft of the rock. The Rock is Jesus Christ, and no matter what we are experiencing, we are hidden completely in Christ. We are protected, loved and provided for. His glory is in us and we are seated in heavenly places with Him. It's time for us to see ourselves as victorious over every situation. His grace will be there for anything we need as we move forward, leaving the past behind and possessing every promise!

It is difficult to maintain faith in a world of problems. If we do not guard our hearts, we will look at our circumstances with natural eyesight and, therefore, stumble over situations rather than putting complete trust in God. This is why we need more of His PRESENCE – we will be strengthened as we see Him as He is!

Many people are content to discuss the presence of God, but are many willing to pay the price to seek Him daily and truly experience and encounter His presence? How can you hear God speak, in His soft and tender way, when your hurried thoughts create a whirlwind within? Be quiet, and He will soon be heard.

"For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation." - Psalm 62:1

Be silent and visit the quiet recesses of your own heart -- there you will hear God's voice.
You cannot retire too much from the mindless chatter of the world. You don't need much time to tell God that you love Him! Lift your heart to Him. Worship Him in the depths of your spirit.
By not speaking, desiring, nor reasoning, we reach the central place of the inward walk -- that place where God speaks to our inward man. It is there that God communicates Himself to our spirit.

We come to observe that marvelous pull that Jesus had as He walked along the road day after day "God-intoxicated" and radiant with the endless communion of His soul with God.
It is our duty to live in the beauty of the presence of God on some mount of transfiguration until we become white with Christ. After all, the deepest truth is that the Christ-like life is glorious -- undefeatably glorious.

Are you willing to come openly before God, presenting your heart naked before Him? Are you willing to cast all aside that would grieve His presence?

 

PRAYER:

Father God, I know that it is Your desire to reveal Your divine glory through me because I believe. Draw me unto Yourself and that You would begin to reveal Your glory in me and through me. Lord, I cry out for more of Your presence! Without You and Your presence I will never be completely fulfilled. You are all that I need in life to be content. Empower me as I pursue my DESTINY in Christ and the demonstration of Your Kingdom on earth. In Jesus' name. Amen.