How Thin the Veil - Basking in the Presence of God
-- Now we see through a glass dimly, but then we shall see Face to Face...
Never before have I felt the presence of God more near…
I lay exhausted on the couch on our deck, basking in the late September sun. I had just returned home from my Father’s bedside memorial; he had passed away near midnight the night before.
When my Father took his last breaths, he was surrounded by Mother, my Brothers and I. We had been praying, reading scripture and singing hymns. I am profoundly grateful for God’s goodness and His faithfulness to my Father in those final moments together.
Now I had returned home to rest and reflect, to allow my soul to catch up to all the emotions and thoughts that had been cascading through my heart and mind in the previous 24 hours.
It was late September, although the air had turned crisp, the sun was still wonderfully warm. I let my body sink down into the soft cushions and rested my eyelids, allowing the sun to soak deep into my bones.
The sun felt like the warm, gentle weight of God’s presence enfolding me…
I opened my eyes to see sunbeams shining through the branches and leaves overhead like a canopy of His brilliance. The sun was so bright and clear. I have never felt the warmth of God’s presence more tangibly. This vision of light reminded me of 1 Timothy 6:16 where is says that God is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light.
In that moment, I felt God impress on my heart: “I am right here. I AM with you — and your Father is right here with Me.”
Here I was, on earth, looking at the physical sun, experiencing God’s presence in part through creation and symbols, while realizing that simultaneously that my Dad was just on the other side of the sun — fully beholding the actual radiance of the Son face to face!
Truly, how thin the veil between us…
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known
“For now we see through a glass darkly; but then see face to face. now I know in part; but then I shall know (fully), even as I also am (fully) known.” I Corinthians 13:12
The same God who brought my Dad home to Him in heaven, still holds me now on earth. Never before have I felt the presence of God more near.
On both sides of the sun, Christ is faithfully present for those who trust in Him!
Fast forward two months later to a Thanksgiving Eve service at Grace Church in Eden Prairie when the tangible nearness of God’s presence once again enveloped me. The service included baptism, communion, and a song with lyrics right out of Psalms 23, which happened to be my Father’s favorite Psalm.
Aspects of all three of these elements collided in my soul as God’s nearness once again enveloped me…
As I watched the baptisms, it struck me how my Father’s baptism has been fully realized! The waters are symbolic of how we died to our sinful self, how our souls are washed clean by our sinless Savior, and how we are raised to newness of life in Christ.
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7.
Baptism is a physical symbol of a spiritual reality that we progressively grow into through our spiritual journey here on earth - a reality that is only perfected once we are fully with Him.
Then, as we took communion, it struck me that my Father - and all believers in Christ who have passed away - have no more need for that symbolic ceremony because they are now fully with their Savior! Their washing and redemption are now complete. Hallelujah!
During both the baptisms and communion, words of the song “Good Plans” from Psalms 23, washed over me:
“The Lord is my shepherd
And He is everything I need
So, I will not worry
I will not fear the enemy
He said that He loves me
He said that He's with me even though
I walk through the valley
Of shadow and death and still I know -
“He has good plans
He has good plans for me
So, I will take heart in deserts and gardens
He has good plans
He has good plans for me..
I KNOW my Father has GOOD plans for me!”
Then the bridge of the song rises and swells with this declaration:
”Surely, your goodness and mercy, will follow after me
So, fear will not find me
'Cause I'll be dwelling in the house of God!”
What an awesome declaration and assurance that God had indeed brought my Father safely through the valley of the shadow of death into His House to dwell with Him forever!
If God has done this for my Father, then surely He will be faithful to do this for me as well!
As believers we can praise God that our true life is secure in God’s hands!
One day Christ will invite each one of us to pass through the valley of the shadow of death - through the veil that now only thinly separates us from Him - the same veil that will one day pull back to reveal Him fully to us, face to face!
Hallelujah & Amen!
Death has no sting when you are safe in your Shepherd’s arms!
Listen to the song “Good Plans" by Red Rocks Worship and bask in God’s goodness toward you today!
Do you have this sort of hope of salvation from your heavenly Father?
James 4:8 assures us, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
If not, right now you can choose to repent of your sin and confess your faith in Jesus Christ as the only one who can wash you of your sin!
Read Romans 10:8-13 below as a prayer to God in your own words. Confess your faith in Jesus as the Son of God who died on the cross for your sins. Repent of your sin, for we all are fallen (Romans 3:23), and ask God to wash and renew you with his Holy Spirit.
“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13
Then rejoice — for just as you once have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, so now you are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24.