Be With Him

And He said, "My Presence will go

with you, and I will give you rest."

Exodus 33:14

When Moses asked God for direction and proof of His grace, this was God's simple reply -- no answer to his urgent questions, just gentle, kind reassurance of His Presence.  He didn't tell him where to go, or when, or with whom, only that when he went, God would be right there.  I'm so often like Moses, arguing with God, "You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found grace in My sight.' . . . show me now your way . . . that I may find grace in Your sight."  (Ex. 33:12-13)  I know I belong to God, but I'm tempted to doubt His grace unless I know what He's doing, or I imagine that His grace depends on me knowing and doing what He wants.

I'm afraid we tend to see God as an Employer -- He's given us a job to do, and if we don't keep up He'll leave us behind.  And half the time we're not even sure what the job is, let alone how to keep up, so we throw a fit at God, "Just hurry up and tell me what I'm supposed to do!" so we can get on with it and feel good about our performance, maybe even earn His praise.  Pride and lack of trust, plain and simple.  God's invitation is not a "Now Hiring" sign.  He wants children and friends, not employees.  Yes, our Heavenly Father may expect us to do some chores, but that's not His main purpose with us.  Mostly, He just longs to be with us, starting now.  Let's stop getting so worked up about work, and rest in His Presence!

"Father, I want those you have given Me

to be with Me where I am . . ."

John 17:24

Dance!

“Life’s a dance” they say, and the parallel is quite fitting, as I’ve been reminded in my recent opportunities to participate in some English country dancing.  Besides being wonderful exercise, dance certainly tests one’s skill of mind, especially under pressure!  Learning the steps can make for plenty of amusing blunders, but once you’ve got it down, it’s a thrill to be part of perhaps a sizable crowd all moving together in time with the merry music.  Dancing is no idle game physically or mentally, and it also connects dramatically with our souls.  My grandma requested that we dance at her funeral, and for good reason: it’s very hard to dance and be sad at the same time!  Even in scripture, dancing is one of the highest expressions of joy and celebration – Miriam danced after the crossing of the Red Sea, the women danced after David killed Goliath, and David himself danced when the ark of God was brought to the city.  It’s a natural human reaction to overflowing joy – we just can’t keep still!

Dancing with others requires careful coordination and cooperation if it’s going to work smoothly.  So it is with life: we can’t make it work alone, and we can’t make it work well without doing our part and helping others do theirs.  As in an intricate dance, we each have a role to fulfill at the right time and place, and if we don’t step up when it is needed, the whole thing will go wrong.  It’s easy in life to imagine that we are not really needed, to stand by and watch while others take care of things.  Perhaps our part feels small and boring, like the corner position of a post jig.  But if we are not faithful with the role we happen to have, the people around us will suffer for it.  In the dance of life, we must work together!

And in order to work together, we must all be listening to the same directions.  One person may perform the steps of the Spanish waltz flawlessly, but if everyone else is dancing to a different tune, the result will be a complete failure.  So in life: we will run into each other with perhaps disastrous results if we are not all obediently under the direction of one dance Caller, God Himself.  He chooses the tune and the steps, and the results will be beautiful only if we pay close attention to His plan, and only His plan.  When we do, we will find success and thrilling joy.  God wants to have fun with us – the rules are not there to restrict us, but to guide us for the greatest enjoyment of His plan.  So dance!  Dance through life according to God’s perfect choreography, and whenever you get the chance, dance for joy on your own two feet!

Let them praise His name with the dance . . .

Psalm 149:3

Immortality

Humankind has always longed for immortality.  Legends and stories are full of the pursuit of it, and now, with today's technology, we still do everything we can to not die -- sometimes it seems that the goal of life is just to keep it going as long as possible.  Yet at the same time, immortality is seen as a thing to be feared -- we would have to admit that death is actually a mercy compared to living on forever in the world as it is going.  Yet still we refuse to resign ourselves to it.  We hate the thought of getting old, but what else do you think will happen if you don't die young?  Is there an answer?  Or are we doomed to go on searching for something we can't have and, come to think of it, don't really want?

I venture to suggest that the reason mankind can't stop thinking about immortality is because we are immortal.  And somewhere deep down, we all know it.  Whether we like it or not, we will continue to exist forever, and whether we will like it or not depends entirely on our choices in our "mortal" life (which is merely a prelude or "trial run" before the continuation of it).  Or should I say, our Choice -- either to trust God's plan of redemption from death through Jesus Christ, who defeated it on our behalf, and embrace the true life He offers, or to do the best we can to create our own artificial immortality and earn nothing but living death forever.  Yes, such an immortality we would do well to fear!  But the other promises glories beyond all we could imagine in a million years, because it will last far longer than that.  Is there any choice, really, when faced with these options?

What a difference it could make if we truly believed in our immortality!  Not only would we take seriously our own eternal well-being, but we would see others quite differently.  As C. S. Lewis says, "There are no ordinary people.  You have never talked to a mere mortal. . . . it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit -- immortal horrors or everlasting splendours."  Would that thought affect the way we treat and relate to others?  It should.  What kind of immortality will you have, and will the people around you share it?

"Our Savior, Christ Jesus . . .

has destroyed death and has

brought life and immortality

to light through the gospel."

2 Timothy 1:10