God With Us

When I mentally step back and take a bird's eye view of salvation history, one of the most awe-inspiring thoughts to me is the fact that God interacts with man. Beginning at creation when God created man in His image and walked and talked with him in the garden, through the Fall when sin created the unbreachable crevasse of separation between God and man, and then on through the ages when God longs to fellowship with those whose hearts will respond to Him in faith, the fact that God desires and pursues intimate relationship with His creation is simply mind-boggling. The God of the universe, the Creator of the world and the galaxies, the infinite, eternal, holy God wants fellowship with his creatures. If this truth weren't undeniably revealed to us in holy writ, the presumption of the idea would be monstrous.

In the old testament we see God begin the epic work of restoring the relationship lost at the fall. He gave His physical presence to the nation of Israel and dwelt with them through the exodus and years of wandering through the desert, a presence revealed by fire which dwelt over the tabernacle and which led them constantly. They experienced His presence in the fire, earthquakes and smoke of Sinai when they entered into covenant with Him. Later His presence descended on the temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem. This presence continued until the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon at which time “the glory departed”.

After centuries of silence, the story of the pursuit reopens in the new testament. Once again the glory returns, this time in hidden form, the form of a baby. The God of the universe, the Creator of the world and the galaxies, the infinite, eternal, holy God once again seeks fellowship with man, now coming as a redeemer and sacrifice, actually coming in human form to live among us and then die to restore us by paying for our sin and rebellion. It is wonderful beyond comprehension, the condescension and love of God that would cause Him to pay such a great price to have fellowship and communion with His rebellious creation. As the hymn writer cried, “How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure!”

But the crowning chapter of God's progressive pursuit of fellowship with His creature comes at Pentecost. The even more unbelievable step of actually indwelling the creature was realized. In every heart that is willing to submit and believe/accept His atoning sacrifice for their sin, God seals the covenant relationship by coming in, by the inexpressible condescension of actually indwelling the creature and making His home in that person. This time there is no earthquake and smoke, no fire (although at pentecost there was the appearance of flames, which would have been loaded with meaning for the Jews!). Just as after His resurrection He “was ever wont to glide, unheralded, into the midst of His disciples through unopened doors”*, He now gently enters our innermost beings and begins the work of transforming us through His presence into what we were meant to be, what we could never become apart from His presence in us. And whatever our stage in that transformation, He fellowships with us in the deepest and most satisfying ways.

Bernard of Clairvaux said it this way:

He entered not by the eyes, for His presence was not marked by color; nor by the ears, for there was no sound; nor by the breath, for He mingled not with the air; nor by the touch, for He was impalpable. You ask, then, how I knew that He was present. Because He was a quickening power. As soon as He entered, He awoke my slumbering soul. He moved and pierced my heart, which before was strange, stony, hard and sick, so that my soul could bless the Lord and all that is within me praised His Holy Name.”

Man, made in the image of God, is now recreated from the inside out through His indwelling presence. He goes about the work of re-creation and establishes the fellowship He has longed for from the beginning. Our hearts can now join with the Psalmist who says, “Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in!” (Psalm 24) Truly He has entered through the gates of our lives and brought His Glory with Him. May our hearts respond in loving submission and obedience to His benevolent reign, purchased at great price for us. What peace and hope and inexpressible joy – God with us!

*FB Meyer, The Secret of Guidance.