Ezekiel 43: After this, the man brought me back around to the east gateway. 2 Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east. The sound of his coming was like the roar of rushing waters, and the whole landscape shone with his glory. 3 This vision was just like the others I had seen, first by the Kebar River and then when he came to destroy Jerusalem. I fell face down on the ground. 4 And the glory of the Lord came into the Temple through the east gateway.
5 Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. 6 And I heard someone speaking to me from within the Temple, while the man who had been measuring stood beside me. 7 The Lord said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel. They and their kings will not defile my holy name any longer by their adulterous worship of other gods or by honoring the relics of their kings who have died. 8 They put their idol altars right next to mine with only a wall between them and me. They defiled my holy name by such detestable sin, so I consumed them in my anger. 9 Now let them stop worshiping other gods and honoring the relics of their kings, and I will live among them forever.
0 “Son of man, describe to the people of Israel the Temple I have shown you, so they will be ashamed of all their sins. Let them study its plan, 11 and they will be ashamed of what they have done. Describe to them all the specifications of the Temple—including its entrances and exits—and everything else about it. Tell them about its decrees and laws. Write down all these specifications and decrees as they watch so they will be sure to remember and follow them. 12 And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness! The entire top of the mountain where the Temple is built is holy. Yes, this is the basic law of the Temple.
idk about you.. but I want to be in the presence of the Lord.. I want to hear the Lord come in like rushing wind... I want to see it and feel it and know it.. not just in my spirit but also in my physical body...
I wonder.. is our lack of holiness what keeps God from really showing His presence?.. I don't think we really know what holiness even is.. I am sure I don't.. everything in the bible that was kept holy was separated.. what do we separate ourselves from? we may give up some things.. but not others.. I don't think we are taught about holiness.. about reverence of the Lord...
I remember when I was a kid we weren't allowed to put another book on top of the bible.. but now I do... so I have watered down my mother's respect or reverence for the physical word of God... yet I read it daily.. I keep it with me at all times.. are these just actions that don't mean anything? is the real reverence in our hearts sufficient?
I admit I don't know the answer to any of these questions... I do not walk in complete holiness.. as much as I desire to listen to the voice of God.. still there are times when I do not.. using the excuse that I am unsure if it is God or me thinking whatever it is... I guess if it does not bring shame to the name of God then I should do it whether I am sure or not.. but fear of rejection from people is strong within me.. although it never was before... we come so far in some areas then regress in others... I avoid the desires of the flesh.. yet occassionally I give in to them in one form or another.. I seem to not have enough self discipline to completely die to the flesh.. yet the bible states that we are free from it.. I can't tell... my body screams out with need sometimes.. yet I am to struggle to remain pure... waiting on God... and I could crawl out of my skin...
I believe with all of my heart that standing in the presence of God.. being able to see Him as I pillar of fire or a cloud is still possible.. He wants us to know Him and be sure that He is real.. what is it we are doing or not doing that is keeping Him from showing Himself in this manner? I am unsure... but I am sure that our lack of holiness is one of the things...
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