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Now when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut the disciples were together due to fear of the Jews… Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” John 20:19
The presence of God.
Almost every Christian that I ask misses this question:
What is the ultimate reason that Jesus came?
Not this answer: Not to give us rules, teach us doctrine, just for salvation, tell us what to do, or forgive us.
The answer: So that we can be in His presence.
There is fear outside the presence of God and peace within God’s presence.
The Bible begins with presence in the Garden as a sanctuary where God met with Adam and Eve. The Bible ends with presence of God, revealed for all eternity:
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be there… His servants will see His face; and His name will be on their foreheads. Revelation 22:3-4
Let’s go theological for a moment. Adam and Eve died immediately after disobeying God in the Garden, not physically or psychologically, but spiritually. Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again, not physically or psychologically, but spiritually!
The presence of God isn’t always physical now (it will be in heaven), but His Spirit (and Jesus) are in the room with you right now.
Jesus told His disciples that it would be better for Him to go away, so that He could send His Spirit (John 16:7)! Jesus also asked the disciples to go to the entire world making disciples and that He would be with them always.
We don’t walk by sight yet; we walk by faith. In heaven we will walk by sight only (faith not needed). We will see Jesus! But we are in His Presence now – If Christ is in you (Romans 8:10).
You can’t get closer than Christ in you.
I pray that by faith you will experience the presence of God right now. In the presence of Christ there is no fear. The presence of God with Peter was strong enough that his shadow could heal, and in Paul, with handkerchiefs taken from touching him to heal those sick at home (Acts 5 and 19).
The presence of Jesus is powerful.
Practicing the presence of God isn’t mysticism or chanting. The presence of God isn’t always miracles but sensing God in your daily walk. The presence can be found in reading your Bible, giving a large tip in a restaurant, listening to a sermon, petting your dog (not a cat), or right now as you read Interruptions.
The presence can ebb and flow. The enemy of “Christ in you” is distraction.
James writes:
Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you! (4:10)
Humble means “bowing before” and presence means “the eye of God”. How do you practice the presence of God? You bow in all aspects of your life.
Bow by faith in His presence now. Soon, we will see Him face to face.