How good it is to be in the presence of the Lord. That sentence may sound so foreign to some. There was a period of time in history where the majority of people would’ve understood exactly what that meant. There was a time when most people had an understanding that life was ordered beneath the hand of a mighty God. Belief in a creator was the norm, but any observer today can see that it is a foreign concept, something unrelatable and irrelevant. Rather, the majority today see themselves as the maker of their lives.
I’m thankful that I learned at a young age about the maker of all things. I didn’t grasp the deep theological aspects of what that meant, but I definitely had a reverence for the greatness of God. He wasn’t even a prominent part of my life, just on the periphery, but I had an awareness and a respect. Like most people, I was too busy thinking about myself to give him my full attention. He let me wander around and explore this world on my own terms. That’s one of the beautiful aspects of his nature; he never forces himself on anyone.
There came a time with all that exploration and perceived freedom, that I felt unsatisfied, restless, in need of a deeper meaning and purpose to this life. This stirred up in me those early exposures to a supreme being outside of myself. I began to read the Bible, which providentially was placed in my path. I had never really read the Bible. I only knew about God through my catechism days as a child. But when I began to read a whole new world came to life before my eyes. It was magnetic; I couldn’t put it down. There was a supernatural pull upon my heart and my mind that I couldn’t resist. Suddenly, things began to make sense. In a world riddled with chaos, political upheaval, anxiety and anger, I saw a world of order and beauty and purpose. Smack dab in the center of chaos was this beautiful reality of majesty and glory.
The world has always been in chaos. We see that played out even in the Scriptures. There were always wars, rumors of wars, naysayers and power grabbers. But when we step into the Word of God it’s like walking through a door to another reality. In the pages from Genesis to Revelation, there is a clear story that unfolds. There are explanations for the mess of things. There is a clear remedy that rectifies everything. It traces the bloodline of the Savior Jesus from beginning to end. It is written for everyone whose eyes desire to understand. It is alive with the power to enlighten the soul to the world behind the world. There is a purpose in everything under heaven. This book is not just for the theologically attuned or a special segment of the population. This book is a love letter from the Creator of the universe to every human being on this planet. But if you never read the letter, you can never know how deeply you are loved. You can never know what this world is really all about.
In the presence of the Lord, which is where we are when we are reading this book, we find a place to quiet our soul. In place of chaos, we can find peace. In place of anger, we can find understanding. In place of confusion we can find meaning and purpose.
For me, it is good to be in the presence of the Lord.
“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance…Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:5-6, 9-11 ESV
