Post by evanschaible on Aug 20, 2006 10:34:12 GMT -5
WARNING: This is not a theological article. It is practical.
And He said...
By: Evan Schaible
“And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20).
The article I wish to push into circulation here is not your normal piece of Christian literature. In the day and age where we find ourselves the emphasis is not on God, but on ourselves. Look around you and tell me, what do you see? Undoubtedly you things that are purchased with money that was worked for. But as often as it crosses your mind that these things are owned and paid for by someone how often does it cross your mind that these things will one-day pass away. Nothing will endure the trying fire of God’s judgement except that which is wrought in God.
But the point I wish to make is this; the main tenet of today is the mindset that practically says this, “look out for number one”. Now in the TRUE Christian mind that is a biblical and true statement, but in the mindset of this carnival ‘christianity’ that surrounds us today number one is defined as ME. If it has no direct benefit to enhancing our own lives then we have no use for it. If it is not formulated to bring me pleasure, or to bring me gratification, or to bring me some kind of fulfillment than it has no place in my life and therefore it does not matter. But this is the exact opposite of Christianity.
Jesus made sure His disciples knew one main point that should define every one who claims the name of Christ. He made sure they knew what it meant to deny yourself. “If any man comes after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me”. These are searching words for the modern believer who finds himself caught up in selfish Christianity instead of selfless Christianity. What does it mean and how does it apply?
Many of you are probably wondering exactly why I picked the text that I picked. I wish to approach this issue from a very different angle in this article. I do not want to center this article on what man has to do, but rather, who man has to see. If I were to write an entire treatise on mans role in self-denial then how would I be truly writing on self-denial? I would be telling you how to engage yourself to deny yourself. This is not possible. That is why I chose this text, “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”
This thirty third chapter of Exodus has had me spell bound for numerous days. I just cannot seem to sort everything out. It is such a glorious chapter. But it gives us keen spiritual insight regarding God. I am not talking of fluffy what would Jesus do Christianity, but seeing God face to face. I am talking of a man talking with God like man speaks with his friend. This chapter contains a paradox. Moses talked with God face to face, but yet no man can see the face of God and live. So how does this work.
Sometimes when I read through the book of Romans I stop and meditate on chapter six, in fact, apart from Exodus 33, Romans six sits in my mind as a favorite. But in the seventh verse of that sixth chapter we read, “he that is dead is freed from sin”. Now the practical side of this verse is another whole book, but the spiritual side is deeply rooted in the ground of the heart of a true believer; He that is dead. This is not physical death, or even spiritual death, but death to the world, sin and the flesh. I am not a Calvinist, and I believe that you can be free from sin. But what is greater is that we can be free from the world, free from the flesh. But this freedom is often referred to in the scriptures as death because it is painful. It is often connected to the cross, because it is painful. Let me say it one more time, it is painful.
Many people are ignorant as to the process one must go through to die. Really it is very simple. Cry out to God like Moses, “show me Thy glory”. Which brings us to the text, “And He said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live”. If you see God, in all of His glory, you cannot live. You will die because God will kill you. You will no longer live, Christ will be formed in you and the life you will live will be lived by the faith of the Son of God. It is not an act of faith, as many would tell you. However, it is PRIMARILY an act of faith because no matter how hard you try you cannot climb the mount of God. God must pull you up, but you must cooperate.
Jesus said, “he that has my commandments and keeps them, He it is that loves me, and he that loves me will be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him” You see, this is a conscious act of obedience. Many people cry out to God like Moses but do not obey like Moses. He received four books entirely of law. God gave him no other reason to obey except the ever-occurring phrase “I am the Lord”. That is the primary reason to obey God, because He is the Lord. Consequently Moses lived on the mountaintop for quite some time in the presence of God. Then He moved into the holy of holies and entered into deeper communion with God. Why? Because He obeyed the voice of the Lord.
Now I fully understand that the passage I have used I have not used its primary meaning. But if you see God, you can no longer live. He will take over. He is a consuming fire, and he will purify your hearts with the fire of His Spirit. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”. This, the first step of death, comes when you see God for who He is, not for what man tells you He is. Then like Isaiah you see yourself and you put off your filthy deeds. You begin to live and walk in the Spirit. This is what it means to be dead; God the Holy Ghost makes you His channel to reach this viscously cruel world.
Before I end this article I pose the question: Have you seen God? If you say yes, and you are not dead to the world, dead to the flesh, and dead to sin then you are a liar. If you say you have seen God, and are not dead to sin, and do not keep His commandments, you are a liar. If you say you have fellowship with God, and walk in darkness you are a liar and “all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire”. Have you seen God? Have you seen Him in His holiness? God says to you dear reader, “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live”.