The Purifying Presence of God

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

 

Our God is a consuming fire! Fire is a cleansing agent and produces purity. God revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush. He revealed Himself to Ezekiel as a fire from the loins up and the loins down. Jesus revealed Himself to John on the Isle of Patmos as glowing brass and with eyes that were flames of fire. Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John and His countenance began to glow pure white.

God revealed himself to Moses on the top of Mount Sinai with thunder and lightning in Exodus 19. The presence of God is so perfect that no impurity can come near Him without immediately disintegrating.

Uzza reached out to steady the Ark of the Covenant when it reeled and was struck dead! Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire on the altar of sacrifice and fell dead.

God is Holy. The word holy means set apart. The Father is absolute purity and anything that is impure is consumed by His presence.

When the Holiness of God comes down and touches the sinfulness of man the results of that union is called wrath. Wrath is God’s holiness completely consuming impurity. God’s wrath is mentioned in the Bible more than His love!

We’ll soon be entering a time of unprecedented upheaval on earth that is predicted to happen during what is commonly called the tribulation, a time of judgment that precedes the second coming of Christ. This is a time of great wrath displayed and of God’s enemies being judged for their rebellion to His purposes. As God’s presence increases in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ, wrath will be displayed as God’s Holy presence touches sin and rebellion.

Thank God that as Christians we are not appointed to wrath, but to obtain mercy through the Lord Jesus! Jesus incurred the wrath of God on behalf of our sin. Now we can fellowship with God as though we never did wrong!

 

The Father wants us to walk in holiness so that He can draw near to us with His manifest presence. The blood of Jesus has made a way for us to come boldly to the throne of grace so we can obtain mercy and find grace to help our need!

That awesome Presence that caused Moses’ face to shine with the Glory is now abiding in us. We have become bearers of the Presence because of Jesus! And the fire of His presence working within us will draw impurity out of us! He is a Refiners Fire and a Fuller’s Soap (Malachi 3:2).