The Quest For God
“[God] wants to do the inconceivable, the uncommon, the
unexpected, the remarkable, the incomprehensible, so that He – God – is the
only explanation for what occurs in our lives.”[1]
Let’s bring into focus some terms that will assist us in
understanding this God-shaped vacuum that drives our spiritual hunger. The
first term is “transcendence.” This
term is used to described God as being far away or wholly other. “Manifest Presence” is what we call God
coming near. On the one had scripture declares that the Lord God is in the
heaven above (Deut. 4:39), and that He has set his glory above the heavens’
(Psa. 8:1). Yet on the other hand we realize that God is actually not far from
each one of us (Acts 17:27). Another term to consider is “Omnipresence” which means that God is everywhere fully and
completely. However, we should not assume that Omnipresence means everywhere
the same in terms of God’s activity.
Exodus 33 reminds us why this discussion matters if in fact
we desire to experience the manifest presence of God in our church. What a
shock that it must have been for Moses to come from Mount Sinai only to
discover the people intoxicated with idol worship from “golden calves that
jumped out of the fire.” Even more serious was God’s appraisal of the
situation: “…I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you
are a stiff-necked people” (Ex 33:3). The intoxicated idol worshippers sobered
quickly and notice their response to God’s words of removing His presence;
“When the people heard this disastrous word they mourned…” Still hung-over they
were shocked at the meaning of God’s report.
From this scenario Moses intercedes on behalf of the people.
Do not miss the power of his words in 33:15; “…if your presence will not go
with me, do not bring us up from here.” Can we imagine that level of intensity
– Are we terrified to take one step in ministry without the manifest presence
of God? Are we comfortable in activity for God as opposed to His manifest
presence? Does a thought of weekend services without the presence of God cause
you to go into a “melt-down” mode like Moses?
Perhaps it is time that we return to our Biblical purposes
that allows God to be the leader and spokesman instead of our many programs and
plans that we invite God to attend. There are thousands of ways that churches
can distinguish themselves. Our goal is not to uniquely distinguish us from
each other. However, all of our glitz, bling, and light-show displays are not
what makes the church of Jesus Christ unique in front of a watching world. The
only thing that we can shout about is God showing up in power and doing what we
cannot do for ourselves!
[1] Don Cousins, Unexplainable:
Pursuing A Life Only God Can Make Possible (Colorado Springs: David C Cook,
2009) pp14-15.
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