Stand in the Presence of God

Dearly beloved of God, how would you like to stand in the presence of the Lord?

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord . . . .” I Thessalonians 4:15

You just stood in the presence of the Lord and heard him speak.

That which follows is “the word of the Lord” and it reveals the will of God to us concerning our hope and release from death.

“Who [God] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:4

You just stood in God's presence and heard Him speak to you again and reveal His will.

It does not matter if God speaks to us in a letter, or by a prophet, or He sends an angel with a message, or He speaks to us out of a burning bush as He did to Moses, or a chamber maid speaks His Word; if He originated the information we heard the Word of God.

“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13

Who is speaking? God is speaking. To whom is God speaking? He is speaking to His people. What did they do? They forsook God, who is “the fountain of living waters”; He is an endless source of supply.

Instead, they made their own man-made cisterns, which were broken and could not hold water. They limited God by their own man-made doctrines and traditions. Their man-made doctrines and traditions were not only limited cisterns; they were broken ones that failed them time and again.

God gave His Word to His people so they could know that He was an unlimited supply of resources to them. His people heard Him speak; God sent Jeremiah to give them His Word.

When men do not listen to God and believe what He says, they will not have the resources that God wants to supply them; they will have broken cisterns that cannot even hold water.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” Jeremiah 2:13

No one has to be ignorant. God has spoken and we have what He said recorded in the scriptures. God declared the end from the beginning. The only source from which we can possibly gain this knowledge is from God and He revealed it to us in His Word.

God’s counsel shall stand. Even if the whole world dismisses the Word of God today, nothing can keep Him from performing His will.

“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:9

God’s track record is reliable; He is trustworthy. God is the only One capable of teaching us these things. It is available to know about them if we will but take the time to listen to Him.

“Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?” Isaiah 42:23

This is the real question. Perhaps we should listen to God when He speaks. He is searching for people who will listen to Him. We have the privilege of standing in His presence every time we open His Word.

God has planned for eternity, and He revealed His Will to us concerning it. He provided us with an understanding of how He will provide us with His release from death – it’s the only release possible - and of future times so that we are not ignorant.

“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King [God is speaking]. Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.” Isaiah 41:21-23 NIV

God’s people were arguing with Him; not a smart thing to do. They even went to another source for answers – they listened to people who led them to dumb idols.

God explains both former things such as the beginning and the times of the end before they take place. Apparently, He has not hidden these truths from us. Why would anyone want to argue with God?

Why would anyone choose to reject what He says regarding these subjects? What higher authority could we possibly consult for this knowledge? If we are smart, we will always take what someone may say about spiritual matters back to the Word of God to see if it is so. We do not have to be ignorant.

Revelation knowledge comes from God. What He says is true and reliable. His knowledge is superior to man’s limited senses knowledge. God is God: all-powerful, eternal, and all wise. What is man next to Him?

God has given us the privilege of standing in His presence and hearing Him speak. Open His Word and hear what He has to say, dearly beloved. His Word is His Will and He is infinitely capable and willing of performing it in your life.