Nov. 6 God's Face is Hidden

November 6 - God's Face is Hidden

Deuteronomy 31:18 says, "And I will certainly hide my face on that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods."

This is one of those things that we sometimes have difficulty understanding, but if we think about it - it actually makes sense. God, in His perfection can not be in the presence of sin. He will destroy the sin. So ... if sin is in us, He would end up destroying us with that perfection.

Exodus 33:20, "But," he said, "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

Job says, "When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him."

"No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made him known." (John 1:18)

"And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form." (John 5:37)

Paul says in his letter to Timothy, "...who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." (1 Tim. 6:16)

Unapproachable light. We would be like a moth in a flame - consumed by the power of God's perfection.

This is why I am so thankful for the mercy that our God shows to us. He has made that mercy and His grace available to us in the offering that covers all of our sins through Jesus Christ.

When God resided in the Tabernacle - in the Holy of Holies, a priest that had spent an entire year preparing himself, cleansing himself, offering sacrifice after sacrifice for his own sin as well as the sins of the people could enter. There was fear among the people that he would be killed as he came into the presence of God, so a rope was tied around his ankle just in case his body needed to be pulled from that room.

This is the fear we have in approaching the Lord God Almighty. But, when the curtain separating that room from the world was ripped in two at the crucifixion of Jesus, we were given immediate access to the throne of God. The final sacrifice had been made. All we were required to do was come before Jesus ... who was born into the world and was of the world ... who was made like us so that He would not consume us with His perfection ... all we have to do is come before Him. He makes us clean and stands with us as we approach the throne. We can do so in full confidence that we will not be consumed and we are given a chance to have a relationship with our Creator, the author of all perfection, the Lord God Almighty.