I wonder if history has seen a time when II Chronicles 7:14 has been quoted more than it is now. We’re not very good at humility, and social media works against it, but maybe the pandemic urges us more closely toward the “humble themselves” part of the verse. Many of us have spent time giving serious thought to our sin and those of our nation, in order to “turn from our wicked ways”. Now all that’s left is for God to hear and forgive and heal, right?
There’s one more thing for us to do: “seek His face”. Do we think about God’s face? We think about who He is in history or what He gives or can give us or His creation. But seeking His face . . . Hmmm.
Scripture tells us no one can see God and live. I believe it. And to my way of thinking you don’t have to read much more than that to feel a huge amount of humility. And we know that Jesus is God incarnate, so to look on Jesus is to see God’s face. Of course others will say they see the face of God in His creation: nature, people in every walk of life, etc. Still others will say God doesn’t have a face because He is Spirit. I can’t disagree with any of it.
Still, this verse says, “seek My face”. I’ve just been thinking about finding what is beyond the usual answers. Is someone’s face the essence of their feeling and thought? Do we wear our history; our suffering and joy on our face? Can others see what we think of them when they look at our face? Do we fall in love the longer we spend gazing at someone’s face?
I think we will each come to a better conclusion if we work on this individually just now, not read what some blogger writes. If you come up with something by all means share it with the rest of us! For now, enjoy seeking God’s face. Spend time in His presence. Dwell there. See what happens. And I’ll see you when I see you – face and all.
Scripture source: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.