A Life Before God’s Face

A lack of fellowship with God often leads to a person becoming puffed up and conceited, which is highly distasteful to God and to godly people. God does not esteem those who are wise in their own eyes, and godly people are of the same mind. Job 37:24. [Norw.] In contrast, by continually maintaining fellowship with God and with His word, and by living our lives in God’s presence—before His face—this will cause us to be filled with the fear of God (1 Chron. 13:12), and we will constantly sense the Spirit’s chastening over our lives.

Moses asked to see God’s glory, to which God replied: “I will make all My goodness pass before you.” Ex. 33:18-23. Therefore Moses did as God commanded and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning and waited on God. Ex. 34:2. When God descended and met with Moses, Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. Then he said: “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us.”

This godly fear that Moses possessed, characterizes those who live in God’s presence. They receive this godly fear, reverence and humility in their lives. They also bow their heads and worship God. There, in God’s presence, and by the chastening of the Spirit, they are stripped of their high-mindedness, self-confidence, and self-consciousness. And this humble prayer is in their hearts: “Lord, may I find grace in Your sight! May my life be well pleasing to You! Do not forsake me, Lord, but go with me! I can do nothing of myself, but only what You work in me, I can do.” Ex. 34:6-9.

Living in God’s presence, and in the presence of God-fearing people, is like a “constant judgment” over my flesh and my thoughts. Ps. 94:11-12. “The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law.”

It is only through God’s word that I can gain wisdom and instruction! My own thoughts are not only tainted with emptiness, but they are exclusively empty— they are nothing but emptiness! Therefore, it is a blessed position to be in, when God chastens us and through His word can give us wisdom and substance! It is a far worse position to be in, not to be “esteemed by God”—which is the case if I am wise in my own eyes. Job 37:24. Therefore, let us rejoice that we sense God’s consuming fire, and that He whose name is “Zealous” is working with me! It is a sign that we are loved by God. We are not left to our own devices on account of our own self-conceit, but God Himself—through the Spirit of truth—works with us so that what is nothing but emptiness may be replaced with the wisdom of God.

Kjetil Evensen