Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
Psalm 139:7 (NKJV)
I could easily see and be affected by God’s presence basically anywhere at any time while hiking the Appalachian Trail, (AT). But one way that God spoke in a special way to me was when I saw one of His houses of worship poking its steeple up through the fog, trees, and yes, streetlights too. 😊
One spot in particular was in Massachusetts. Of all the churches I saw along the AT, this is the one that has always stood out the most in my thoughts. Even more than those I attended along the way.
I was walking along a mountain ridge as the fog moseyed along with me. Neither one of us were in a real big rush to get anywhere; we were just enjoying living in the moment.
The fog would thin and thicken at will in different areas demonstrating for me its incredible talent of creating the most breathtaking drama. It would thin out into long delicate wisps threading its way through the pines and hardwoods, valleys and ravines and along the streams and riverbeds. Then it would stretch out its massive arms, completely embracing the wilderness before me transforming all of its majesty into itself, a creamy white, living, drifting mist. Afterwards, it would tease me along the way by opening little windows here and there unveiling the elegance of some particular aspect of the wilderness in its foggy frame. Sometimes it would be the treetops (always a favorite), or some mountain summits (another favorite). And this time, it was a little country church snuggled way down into one of Massachusetts most precious and hallowed valleys. (The ultimate favorite.) 😊
Before the mist swooped in to whisk this beautiful heavenly portrayal away to show me something else, I captured the moment and was able to burn this precious gift of the little church forever into my mind and heart.
Psalm 139:9–11 goes on to say, 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea (or wilderness 😊); 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (AV)
I would be filled with the precious reality of that passage in a very intimate way each time I would see one of these houses of worship along the AT. No matter where I was, what I was experiencing or how far away civilization was, I always knew I was never alone.
Like a little game of Peek-A-Boo, God would unexpectedly pop in with one of His churches and give me an extra embrace, holding me with His strong arms, pulling me tightly to His chest. These churches amplified His presence as well as His grace and mercy in my life. 😊
Psalm 26:8 took on a very special meaning to me on the AT. LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. (AV)
Whether hiking or driving down the road, what comes to our mind when we see these houses of worship. Whether they preach the gospel of Christ there or not, whether they are functioning or falling apart, whether they are still a church or have been turned into a home or whether a large city church or a small country church; do we even notice them and/or devote any attention to them?
Wherever they are geographically, structurally, or spiritually, they all symbolize one thing, the presence of God and the reverence that is due to Him.
Maybe our answer to this question is a little like prayer. Usually our present situation determines our prayer life and it is probably the same concerning noticing and being affected by a church building. The better things are going the less we pray and/or notice God’s church buildings framed for us on any given day.
If that is the case it is definitely understandable as we are all cut out of the identical cloth with the corresponding selfish bents. At the same time, it is so very sad this is the kind of people we inherently are. It does not matter if we are on the AT in the middle of nowhere, in the country or in the city, we all fall short when it comes to God and His glory, (Romans 3:23). ☹
God our Creator can and desires to have, such a bigger presence and impact on our lives. I believe that allowing our CIRCUMSTANCES to control any spiritual areas of our life is a tragedy of such magnitude and consequence that not even in our wildest imagination can we calculate the losses we are tallying up for our self, one day after another. We CAN and I believe DO know this fact intellectually as God in Romans 1:20 tells us. It is another issue entirely though, to determine to push through the fog of “me first” in order to open a window in our life and invite God in.
When God’s presence and desire to interact with us is so beyond belief and any comprehensive understanding, we must resolve to accept this by faith and accept that we will not really appreciate this truth and the impact it can have on our lives until the gospel believer gets home to glory. 1 Corinthians 13:12 clearly states this. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. (NLT)
The next time we are on the trail or driving down the road and God reaches out to embrace us by placing one of His houses of worship in front of us, let’s reach back with our minds and hearts. Let’s thank Him for His precious presence and the eternal impact He is having on us. Let’s allow Him to put a little extra spring in our step, a broader smile on our face and an extra measure of reverence for Him, for the day. 😊
Faith Aids 