As I was worshipping the Lord, an awesome sense of His
Presence invaded the room. I was caught
up into the Holiness and Majesty of the Lord Himself and scarcely dared to
breathe. Suddenly, a Lamb appeared before me. He walked up to me and touched my
cheek with his cool, moist nose. He
gazed steadily at me with eyes that carried the look of eternity; the look of
infinite love and mercy, and wisdom beyond understanding. At the same time, his
eyes also held infinite justice, righteousness, and holiness. I became aware of
every atom of my entire being. Everything was laid open and bare: nothing could
be hidden from His piercing eyes. I stared in amazement at my entire being: it
had become completely transparent. I waited with dread and terror at being so utterly
and completely exposed.
He spoke to me and said “Are you coming?” and then proceeded
to walk toward a hill of fire. I desperately wanted to follow Him. He stopped,
looked back at me and asked me again “Are you coming?” I seemed to be torn
because while I desperately wanted to be with Him, I was afraid of the pain of
the convicting and cleansing fire. He then said “This is where I will be” and
walked into the hill of fire. I knew I had no choice but to follow Him wherever
He would lead.
About forty five minutes later this intense Presence of the
Lord lifted. I found myself facedown on the floor. I touched my cheek and found
it cold and wet, as when a lamb nuzzles you.
The Lord’s desire is for us to acknowledge our wretched
sinful ways and turn from them to receive His gracious pardon, forgiveness, and
restoration. He knows every detail of us, good and bad. Let us keep short
accounts and a tender conscience by daily allowing the Holy Spirit to
illuminate the bible to us. Prayer, bible study, and fellowship with healthy
believers will cause us to grow and mature. When we hide our sin, it is only to
ourselves. Be quick to repent as God
will freely pardon those of a contrite heart. Let the purifying fire of the
Holy Spirit refine and cleanse us.
Hebrews 4: 13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must
give account.
Isaiah 6:5
Woe is me, I cried. I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean
lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the
King, the Lord Almighty.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who
can understand it?
I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward
a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me O God and know my heart. Test me and know my
anxious thoughts. See if there is and offensive way in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting.
Psalm 15
Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your
holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does
his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile
man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the
innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.