Do You See Him?

I am making this post based on a devotional I read this past week.  After I read the devotional and studied the scriptures, the devotionals message really hit me.  I mentioned in the post “Devotions”, back in January, that I was going through the devotional “My Upmost For His Highest” by Oswald Chambers.

I find it interesting the devotional was compiled by his wife, after he had went on to glory.  I am glad she did, he had some deep spiritual thoughts, based on his study of the scriptures, which could have been lost if she had not.  I also have the complete works of Oswald Chambers, it is about 1486 pages of  content without the Bibliography.  I find his passion for reading and studying the Bible, and praying amazing.

The March 29 devotional was the one I read.  It is entitled “Our Lord’s Surprise Visits”.  The overall theme of this devotional was to have a relationship with our Lord and Saviour, we have to see Him.  It points out many times we get caught up in religion, works, and the fast pace of life, that we forget and don’t take time to draw nigh to God and spend the time we should with Him.

It indicates that if and when our Lord visits us, do we see Him, or are we so caught up in life we don’t recognize Him. Do we know how to recognize Him. This is not a physical appearing. Although, we see his handiwork all around us in this world. This is God providing us “markers” or “direction signals” in our life to know we are doing God’s will and work.

After Christ had risen, His disciples did not recognize him immediately, when He appeared to them.  This was based on the situation that we do not recognize Him spiritually when He visits with us. There was a saying I heard growing up, it went “religion will send you strait to Hell”.  There is some truth in that saying.  We get caught up doing what the Church (Pastor) tells us, tithes, usher, teach Sunday School, youth leader, greeters, music, and my favorite church security.

We make sure we attend each service, or someone will say something.  We do all the things religion tells us.  We even tell people,  I am a member of whatever church or denomination with pride.  I am not saying these are bad things at all, but how much time a day do you spend with God.  Do you have a personal relationship with him?

I have had times in my life when I have felt the presence of our Lord and Saviour with me.  It is something I will never forget, but it is something we do not feel all the time, and most of the time, He comes when we need Him the most in our lives.

But do we look for Him every day, if He is with you, do you see Him?  I have a song I really like, it is by the band “Need to Breathe”, the song is “Through Smoke”.   The song talks about religion placing a smoke screen between us and God. It is a fitting message for this post.

I like it because I can relate being in the military.  When on the battlefield if you want to hide your movements, you place smoke between you and the enemy in order to hide what you are doing, of course you cannot see the enemy either.

When there is smoke between you and God, He can see you, but you cannot see Him. This also reminds me of the temple in scripture, the burning incense would have made a smoke filled room the priest would have walked through to get to the Holy place, where God was.

I have met Christians who told me they do not like studying Revelation in the Bible, because it was hard to understand and scary.  I love to study Revelation, as a believer, it is full of hope and the knowledge that no matter how many battles I lose, the War is Won.

What is in revelation that scares some Christians is the standing in front of the Judgement Seat.  I have not heard a sermon on that in a long time, hopefully there are pastors and teachers out there still teaching and preaching Revelation.  When you stand before God almighty and you are judged, what will you say.  There is another song by the group “Third Day” that states he will say he “trusts in Jesus.”

That is all I think any of us can say.  There is nothing we can do to deserve God’s love and mercy.  But we have a redeemer who paid the price for us. “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”  (Rev 5:1-5)

When I read this passage, this topic comes to mind there is no work we can do to be worthy of Heaven or Grace.  But, there is our Lord and Saviour who made a way for us.  All we need to do is place our trust in him with all our soul, mind and body; to surrender completely to him, not to religion.

When you stand before the Judgement Seat, will you say you trusted in religion or will you say you trust in Jesus.   We need to be ready to see Him when He comes to us, when He calls us to do a ministry or work for Him.  When He calls us to help someone in need or witness to someone.

Jesus taught us to be alone and speak to God where we have our full attention and spirit on Him. Our eyes should be fixed on our Lord and Saviour, every second of every day.  Not on our jobs, family or religion, but fixed on Him.  Not clouded by smoke that we make ourselves to hide our sins or by religion to cloud what our true actions should be.

If we fix our eyes on Him, the other things in our life will fall into place, and we will see Him and know that He is with us.  In Hebrews 13:5 it states “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”  I have personally experienced times in my life when everything else took precedence over seeing Him in my life.  I have also experienced having a close walk with Him.  Anyone who has experienced this knows, there is no greater experience than to be close to our Lord, Saviour and our God.

The song Through Smoke, states when the answers we are given and the truth of the Word takes different sides, will God still see you, will He still find you through the smoke. If your eyes are fixed on him and you live by his Word and not human or religious answers and teachings; He will see you and He will find you, but when He comes, will you see Him? Will you know him?

Todays devotion had a poem after it, it did not state who said it, I would have to assume Oswald Chambers, but it was “Since mine eyes have looked on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside, So enchained my spirit’s vision, Gazing on the Crucified.” Please draw nigh to our Lord and Saviour today, He waits with open arms. In Christ.