GOD COMES DOWN

Exodus 23:14-25:40; Matthew 24:29-51; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 7:24-27

“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.  You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.”

“And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.”

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
 You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
 O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”

Here in New England is some of the most magnificent foliage and other scenery on earth.  As we have hiked and driven through Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, one thought has come repeatedly.  God is here.  His tapestries put even the greatest artist to shame.  If He feels too high up or too far away, guess who moved….

I did not feel separated from God before we started this trip.  Honestly, it seemed we were pretty close at the time.  Perhaps, in fact, we were – I think abiding in Christ is getting just the tiniest bit easier, especially doing this journal.  But close is not what Christ calls us to.  He wants to surround us, invade us, even overwhelm us with His presence and give us the very power of Pentecost.   He is just waiting – oh, so patiently - for the invitation. 

We are so blessed to have a God who comes down, who actually wants, more than anything else, to live with us and in us.  He seems much nearer out here in nature.  However, I’m still not sure I’m fully ready or willing to accept all He has to offer.  It is hard to even comprehend the glory of the works of His hands or the strength underlying His promises, much less to actually have Him living through me and sharing His power. 

The key may be to try not to do too much.  Let Christ comes as He comes.  Force nothing.  Just practice accepting the grace that surrounds us.  The joy that infuses me here is nothing compared to the joy to come.  But for today, it is more than enough.