FACE TO FACE
Years ago I wrote a song called Face to Face.
One of the themes in the song is the renting of the veil in the Jewish temple when Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins.
This veil, according to historian Josephus, was about four inches thick and sixty feet tall.
That’s so amazing to me. As Jesus breathed His last breath the earth quaked and the impenetrable veil split from top to bottom. Powerful. Supernatural. And what a hopeful event after the previous suffering and passion of Christ.
The renting of the temple veil is especially meaningful if you know the details. The veil, in the Jewish temple, was the barrier to the Holy of Holies- the place where God's presence was manifest and also the place of the Ark of the Covenant. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies only one time a year, to make atonement for the sins of Israel (Exodus 30:10). As the veil was torn, as the death of Christ brought peace between God and man; a New Covenant was established.
A better covenant. So much better.
In THE NEW COVENANT there is no more need to rely on a human intermediary to make atonement for our sins.
And, praise God, there is NO MORE SIN BARRIER between God and humankind if we confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God has raised him from the dead. Romans 10:9 (NIV)
YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE PRESENCE OF GOD, NOW and for the the rest of your natural life and beyond.
So, let’s think about what that means for a minute.
Have you ever longed, in the deepest part of your heart, to be so close to God that you can know Him intimately and hear him speak to you each day? Do you long to walk with God, talk with Him, and commune with Him in deep and meaningful ways? Do you long to live in His presence?
There lived a prophet of the Lord who did just that and was called a “friend of God.”
His name? Moses.
Moses was called a friend of God for “the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” Exodus 33:11 (NIV)
The phrase “face to face” implies a deep intimacy of relationship- a very high level of transparency like you have with a best friend. In this type of relationship you feel known, safe, trusting, and loved.
Moses was a Friend of God because he revered and obeyed God. You can be a friend of God too.
This type of friendship with God involves constant contact.
As we study the life of Moses we see that Moses had ongoing conversations with God. Not intermittent. Not sporadic.
The relationship that Moses had with God was also intimate and reciprocal.
This means that Moses shared his heart with God but it also means that God shared his heart with Moses.
And, of course, Jesus, beloved Son of God, is the ultimate Friend of God. He is the best and highest example of what it means to live and move in the DIVINE PRESENCE.
Isn’t it wonderful, my friends, that as He did with Moses and Jesus, God will share His heart with you. He will open up His heart and reveal to you His will and His ways if you will only draw close and believe. You can know Him Face to Face.
What about you? Are you willing to share your whole heart with God today? Your hopes? Your dreams? Your problems? Your fears? Your joys and your sorrows?
Are you willing to hear what is on God’s heart? His plans and purposes for your life? His heartbreak over a culture that is defiled and unbelieving? His deep, boundless love for mankind and his full and free offer of salvation?
I’ll leave you with that thought and with the opening lyrics to the song I wrote, Face to Face...
Hear the voice of the Spirit calling out to His Bride...
Come away with the Lord, He’s calling you ….