In the cleft of the Rock

It has been a while since my last post – I have been technologically challenged since my computer bombed out on me. I can’t believe we existed just fine without them for so long!

I’d like to dedicate today’s post to my good friend; Johan Stemmet (http://www.tri-stemmet.blogspot.com/). Johan is in Kona, Hawaii for the IronMan World Champoinships, taking place on Saturday, 10 October 2009. It really is such a blessing to see how dedicated and disciplined he trained for this event (right through the cold of winter). Johan, you’re an example to all of us and we wish you all the best. We trust and believe that this event will be all you’ve anticipated it to be.

Johan and his wife, Kim, and daughter Dejone, enjoying their time in Hawaii.

For some time now, we’ve been looking at the Rock of the Old Testament; a picture of Christ according to the New Testament:

1Corinthians 10:4 “And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ.”

In Exodus 33 we read about Moses wanting to “know” God and asked God to show him His glory:

Exodus 33:13 “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favour in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people.”

And then further on:

Exodus 33:18-22 “And Moses said, I beseech You, show me Your glory.” (19) And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy and loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy and loving-kindness. (20) But, He said, You can not see My face, for no man shall see Me and live. (21) And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand upon the rock, (22) And while My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.”

From this passage it’s clear that no man can stand before God and live! Therefore God said to Moses that He (God) would put him in the cleft of the rock, so that he might see Him and live (and Moses only saw God from behind!). Yes, I know; “how is this applicable to us?” The illustration of this Old Testament occurrence is the shadow of what would come (this is always the purpose of the Old Testament: to reveal Christ). The rock is Christ and God had put us in Christ so that we could be in His presence (to see Him) and still live.

You see, our old Human Illness is this: we want to take the credit for saving ourselves (we read so many self-help books!) and we try desperately to impress God and move closer to Him. When in actual fact we can do none of it! In this Old Testament portion we yet again are reminded that it’s always God’s initiative. God made it possible for us to be in His presence by placing us in His Son. It is only in Christ that we find reconciliation (and we didn’t put ourselves in Him, God did)!

1Corinthians 1:30 “But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].”

Paul writes that it is through our being in Christ (Christ has met all the requirements) that we are able to come into His Presence and to really live in abundance and to be everything He created us to be!

Colossians 1:19 “For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him (Christ) permanently. (20) And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.”

What an awesome God! He has done everything for us so that we may know Him and really know Him. And it gets even better: it pleased the Father that we are now reconciled to Him through His Son. He has put us in the real Rock; Jesus Christ, to be the best YOU possible – a son/daughter of the Living God!

What does all of this mean for me and you?

Colossians 1:12 “Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light.”

It is impossible not to see how much God loves you, He has done everything necessary for you to live the life that He prepared for you, the real good life!

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”

Keep on thanking Him for His Goodness and Mercy and Grace, and let the life of Jesus flow through you as the Holy Spirit shows you more and more of Him!