obedience

Have you ever tried to locate someone without seeing his or her face? I have. The results have been etched in my memory ever since. 

I was about 4 or 5 when my family traveled with my aunt from our homes in western Montana to Glacier National Park. The park was beautiful. The scenic views on Going to the Sun Road were incredible. At the top of Logan Pass, we stopped at the visitor’s center. I began my time in the visitor’s center with my aunt. Eventually, I decided I wanted to be with my dad, who was just across the room from us. She asked if I was sure I could make it to my dad by myself. I assured her I could because I could see his pants from where I stood. She let me go. I headed straight for those pants. I made it to the pants and wrapped my little arms around one leg. I heard a voice say, “Hello there, sonny.” It was not a voice I recognized. I looked up and realized that another man wearing the same color and style of pants as my dad was in the building. I had the wrong person. I was very embarrassed. Fortunately, the visitor’s center was small, and I was able to spot my dad just a few feet away in a different line at the counter.  That day I learned what happens when you look only at pants and not at faces.

A couple of posts ago I wrote about God providing us with a map in 2 Chronicles 7:14.  When that map is followed it enables us to live in His shadow. The starting point on the map was to humble ourselves. The next stop on the map after humbling ourselves was to pray, which I discussed in my last post. The final stop on the map is to seek God’s face and turn from evil.  

I enjoy studying faces. I study faces wherever I go, walking down the street, in restaurants, in the mall and yes, even in church services. Most of the time, a face gives you a snapshot of the person in that instant. I am not alone in making determinations about people based on the expressions on their faces. Teachers, preachers, salespeople, cashiers, and customer service representatives all learn to read faces. Everyone who must engage with the public learns to read faces. Are they happy, sad, scared, or angry?  Are they aware of their surroundings or oblivious? Are they awake, alert, and engaged? These observations help to keep us safe and help us to interact appropriately.

 We never have to worry that God is disinterested in us. He is never oblivious to the situations we are facing. He is never sleepy or disengaged. God’s eyes are constantly on us. He is continually trying to catch our attention. God wants us in a close relationship with Him. Did you know that humanity is God’s prized creation? 

 We live in God’s shadow by seeking His face. Seeking God’s face is allowing Him to shape our lives, our thoughts, and our actions. It is following God’s lead. Seeking God’s face allows God to reveal the contents of our hearts to us.  It is asking Him to show us anything that would hinder us in our efforts to live in His shadow. 

I have been married for over 27 years. I have found that understanding what my wife prefers is important, but doing what she likes makes life a whole lot easier. It also seems to make the marriage work much smoother. I do not always get it right. Sometimes, I feel like I make mistakes more often than I get it right. She has found the same to be true about me.  The more we are together the more we know about each other. We must seek to learn about each other. When we stop studying each other, our marriage starts to become dull and burdensome. 

Similarly, when we seek God’s face we are finding out what pleases Him. Learning about Him teaches us what we need to change in our lives. It helps us make good choices in our relationship with Him. This creates a stronger and more vibrant relationship. The more time we spend in conversation (prayer) with God, the more we know about Him and His desires. The more we learn of Him, the more He reveals His plans for us and our lives.

It is impossible to truly seek God’s face and continue pursuing evil at the same time. Anyone, who has tried to do two conflicting things at the same time, is aware of this fact. Distracted driving is very dangerous, yet many of us have done it. I drove distracted on a date once. Okay, so I was trying to kiss her and drive. I was very distracted. Suddenly, I heard the sound of tall weeds hitting the car. I tore myself away and looked. I found my car had traveled in the same direction I was facing. My distracted driving had resulted in the car drifting off the edge of the road. Fortunately, I was able to correct the course without so much as a dent. I drove on with a racing heart and shaking hands. I learned kissing and driving do not mix. It is now about 30 years later, and I still do not mix kissing and driving.

When we pursue sin, we step out of God’s shadow. We travel in the direction we are looking in. We stop seeking God’s face and favor. The longer we stay distracted, the harder it is to refocus. The reverse is also true. When we pursue God’s shadow, we step away from sin. Turning away from sin is the natural result of turning toward God. 

When I was small, there was one requirement for getting dessert at the end of a meal. Eat all my dinner. That meant all the meat, potatoes, and vegetables that my mother put on my plate. This rule was in place for my well-being. Likewise, following all of the simple steps, in the order listed, in the map found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 will enable you to live in God’s shadow. Living in God’s shadow is good for everyone’s well-being.