Have you encountered God face to face?
“Who, me – a mere mortal?” you ask. Have I met God face to face, like meeting you or another man?
Of course not! No man can meet the Living God, Creator of all things, Creator of all men; can we?
The Bible points us to a few instances of a very few exceptional men who did meet God. Here is one reference: The Living God calls for a meeting with the Prophet Isaiah. Though Isaiah was a righteous man – a man of God who would represent the LORD to the people of Judah, listen to his reaction to this personal encounter with God.
Isaiah 6
4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
You may recall an interesting encounter between a righteous man, Job and God. The argument of God to Job (and to man) goes on for pages before Job can attempt an answer to further bring his complaint to God. However, listen to the introduction and caution of Job’s friend, Elihu, prior to Job 38.
Job 37: 23 The Almighty—we cannot find him;
he is great in power;
justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
24 Therefore men fear him;
he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”
Job 38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
We are so smug and full of ourselves – even Christians! Did you know that the earth currently has over six billion people? (I didn’t until just moments ago.) Yet how many of these souls have no knowledge of the Living God; and only fear of death and suffering in this life?
How we have forgotten in our own self-righteousness the helpless and the hopeless of our world. How we have been blind to those of our city. How we have abandoned our own lost friends. How we have left loved ones to their own lives without a personal human love – a love as if given by a personal loving Savior.
How we have approached our God irreverently, as if He were a mere man, without the power and glory to create and to destroy the flesh, blood and living creatures He has made – you and me and all the world.
“Lord, take me out of here now.”
“NO.” I have created you for a purpose.
Do you not see the suffering of sin?
Were you not sent as a healing balm of redemption to suffering souls languishing in hopelessness?
I AM a Personal God, says the LORD! I am with you always. Go and do what I have commanded.
Among the hundred billion or so souls who God has created in His own image to walk a few measured years upon this earth, only one is made to do the work and the ministry to others that you must do. Only one: you.
We have One God, Who IS and was and will be the Living One, Creator of all things, Judge of all men. And the Person of God the LORD wants to have a personal relationship with you. God wants to talk to you.
God has something He has sent your soul here to do in the flesh. The Person of God has a mission just for you.
Will you do it?
To be continued, God willing
God IS beyond our flesh — beyond our mind — above the earth and above the heavens. God IS (if we will allow Him) within our being — within our purpose — wed to our soul in loving intimacy.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”