Presence

Job 42:1-6 Then Job replied to the Lord:

“I know that you can do all things;

no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’

My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

What a difference between hearing about someone and actually meeting them face to face.

Job had that encounter with the Living God - and he discovered that the Lord had listened to and absorbed every complaint that Job had made against Him.

Perhaps we are unaware of God's omnipresence? We don't actively realise that He hears and observes everything. Nothing passes Him by.

Yet the Lord is not like the Google assistant on a smartphone - only listening to serve its own purposes.

The Lord, via the person of the Holy Spirit, is wooing us to that close encounter with Jesus. To see Him face to face and to ever live in His Presence.

Psalm 16:11 AMPC

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Eric Clapton, the famous guitarist, may not be a theologian, but he found the One that helped Him overcome addiction and wrote in his song:

"I have finally found a place to live just like I never could before.

And I know I don't have much to give, but soon I'll open any door.

Everybody knows the secret, everybody knows the score.

I have finally found a place to live in the presence of the Lord.

In the presence of the Lord."

Life lived in the Presence of the Lord is true life forevermore!

Job sought God in anger for answers to his questions. We're not told if God ever gave him all the answers, but he did restore him and gave him His Presence.

Being right and having knowledge is greatly over-rated - Solomon shared it was like chasing the wind. But knowing and living in the Presence of the Lord, well, that transcends knowledge.