Have you ever heard the saying, you become what you behold? It is so true.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18Beholding Him changes us.
We are transformed when we look upon Him. It’s not simply attending a prayer service, leading small groups, or having Christian friends that truly changes us. Those things are good, but we can all too easily remain the same person we were before knowing Christ if we are missing this one thing: His presence.
It is about beholding Him. Seeing Him, hearing Him, and engaging Him on a one-to-one, heart-to-heart level. Jesus’ death accomplished this for us- the veil that once guarded us from Him has been removed, and we can enter into his presence.
It’s knowing Him and being known by Him in the most quiet corners of our souls, where our deepest secrets lie hiding. It’s slowing down and inviting Him in; it’s standing before Him in a place of surrender, trusting that He is who He says He is. It’s there, in that place, that we are changed.
This is core of my story. His presence is what has changed me. His presence is where I have found myself. He makes me whole.
And yet, I find myself, even today, having to fight to keep that face to face time with Him my priority. I hunger for it, but so much distracts from it.
Apart from His presence, it’s all just a bunch of busy religious activity. To be honest, it all wears me out. But in His presence I find life and fullness that causes me to lift my hands in glad surrender and continue on. I only want this life if it has His presence -Him- at the center of it all.
I have learned that the more I gaze into His face, the more I will look like Him. I am still learning this, still discovering this, and experiencing this- still in awe of this, in awe of Him.
What is of our old nature – our damaging thought patterns, our shame, our fear- burns away…and who we were destined to be- a reflection of Him– emerges.
Come, let us draw near to Him.
“Since therefore, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great High Priest (Jesus) over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22