Changed by the Presence of God

2 Corinthians 3:18 - But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The word glory carries the idea of weight. Have you ever been in the room with someone who is important by a worldly standard and found yourself not knowing exactly how to act? Maybe you have encountered someone that you greatly admire from a distance, only to come in close communication with them and felt a little odd. The idea of being in the presence of our holy and almighty God carries a certain amount of weight. How should we respond to His glory? One of the first few responses I have to being in the presence of God and beholding His glory, is how unworthy I am to be in that position. My mind goes to all the reasons that I have no right to behold God in that way. I am comforted through my relationship with Jesus, but I am left with the heaviness of being in God’s presence. I see biblical characters having the same response. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah becomes painfully aware of his sin, but also of God’s forgiveness. He responds with a desire to be used by God. Gideon, in Judges 6, encounters God and is fearful for his life. There are many others that have a glimpse of God’s greatness, His holiness, His glory and they are forever changed. Paul says, in the above verse that we are being transformed by this interaction with God. When we come into God’s presence in this way, when we see the greatness of God, His Holy Spirit works in us. The spirit convicts us of sin in our life, doing surgery to remove sin form our life. The spirit also encourages us to draw closer to God. Ultimately, we are transformed by these experiences.

So, when is the last time you encountered God in all His splendor? Were you singing a praise song when the spirit drove home the words you were singing? Did the words you were reading during your devotion jump off the page and cut or mend your heart? Was your encounter with God when you fellow-shipped with one of His children? Did His greatness shout to you as you looked up into the sky on a clear starry night? Maybe it has been to long since you encountered God in this way. Take the time right now to begin to think about the greatness of God.