Portable Presence
I love going camping. My idea of camping is pulling my camper to the campground and “roughing it” with my own kitchen, living room, queen bed and full bath! There is something about sitting by the campfire in the evening as well as experiencing the early morning in a different location than usual. That is one of my bucket list items is a camping trip around our great country to some of our national parks.
The Israelites were about to go on a camping journey of sorts. They were currently at the foot of Mt. Sinai where Moses was receiving instructions to laws governing their day to day lives as well as the instructions for worship. The Pillar of Fire led them during the night and a cloud led them during the day. These represented the Presence and the Leadership of God to His People. Moses is also building a traveling tent called the Tabernacle for them to take with them on their journey. This also represented the Presence of God and set up the way God wanted to be worshipped. Check this out….
31 “For the inside of the Tabernacle, make a special curtain of finely woven linen. Decorate it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. 32 Hang this curtain on gold hooks attached to four posts of acacia wood. Overlay the posts with gold, and set them in four silver bases. 33 Hang the inner curtain from clasps, and put the Ark of the Covenant in the room behind it. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
34 “Then put the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Most Holy Place.(Exodus 26:31-34 NLT)
The Presence of God is still with me wherever I find myself. I don’t have to go to a certain location to worship God. I have had some amazing experiences with the Lord in the mountains or at unique locations that I’ve visited. I am thankful that because of Jesus, the Lord now lives in my heart. He goes with me everywhere! He is not simply a jacket that I put on or off – He is inside my soul and He is ALWAYS with me. It’s His Powerful Presence in me that helps me navigate different locations on this journey of life. Paul reminds me that my body is a temple (aka tabernacle) for the Lord. Check this out….
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT)
I am thankful for the Lord’s Presence with me wherever I go. I am thankful for His forgiveness and grace that He brings with Him. He is constantly changing me and my perspective and it’s because He is ALWAYS with me. His Presence under the old covenant was in a location that was portable and then in a Temple that was amazing. He now makes His home inside my heart and He is completely with me wherever I go.
Pressing On!
Dwayne