January 28
“Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them.” —EZEKIEL 10:18-19
There are many people who think God cannot look upon sin, but the reality is that we often meet God in our sin. Is God to be found in the brothels of Calcutta? The answer is “yes”. In the boardrooms of corporations corrupted by greed? “Yes”. In penitentiaries? “Yes”. In fact, Romans 5:20 says, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”
God is in all places at all times. Though many people acknowledge this, they fail to tap into the imminence of God; that is, the immediate presence of God, that He is actually there, involved and accessible. Israel’s tendency was to reduce God to being a tribal God; in other words, the God of Israel – period, whose presence was known to be in the temple of Jerusalem. The tragedy that takes place in the temple in Jerusalem is that God departs from it. As quoted in our opening verse, Ezekiel, a prophet during the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon, sees this in a vision.
The Jews boasted they would be safe under the protection of God, and would always have His presence. Psalm 132:13-14 says, “The LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: This is my resting place for ever and ever.” Because of this, the Israelites didn’t think God would leave them, and they felt at liberty to sin without restraint while still presuming the presence of God.
The temple in Jerusalem foreshadows the dwelling of God in His people today. Paul says, “For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16). As Christians, we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and God never leaves us. Like the Israelites, however, many live as though God were a tribal God, someone they believe in, but fail to make an active participant in their lives. Consequently, there’s no relationship and no thought given to even the presence of God.
But we can never be where God isn’t. No matter what twists and turns our lives have taken; whether in brothels, penitentiaries or corrupted boardrooms, God is continually at work in the hearts of people. The door to Him is always open, because wherever we are God is there, and ready to receive us.
PRAYER: I am grateful, Lord, that there is nowhere I can be out of your presence. You are always there, ready to forgive and bring me back. Thank You, Lord.
TO REFLECT UPON: Does my sin draw me back to God with a contrite heart?