We had just stopped for gas and food part way through our eight hour drive to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A gasp and a “No way!’ from the backseat grabbed our attention. Ben couldn’t get his phone or his words out fast enough. “It’s SideBySide blog!” he exclaimed, while documenting the sighting by snapping a few pics. The object of his excitement was a truck pulling a trailer full of side by sides. Apparently this get-up is well known to Ben from a blog he faithfully follows. Although none of the rest of us had a clue about them, his enthusiasm was contagious. We watched to see which way they went on the highway, and even contemplated following them to see where they were headed and what they were going to do. Although we didn’t see them again, the SideBySide bloggers were mentioned several times as we went on our way.
Makes me think of the glimpses of God that we get as we travel through life…
As believers, we are like Ben – we are faithful followers of God’s messages. We read His Word, we listen to His teachings, brought to us by pastors, speakers, authors.
“My soul followeth hard after thee…” Psalm 63:8 KJV
“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9
“…this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
We are dedicated and invested. Following Jesus has changed our identity and is transforming our character.
From time to time, we look up and see God in front of us! We get an up-close view of what He’s doing or what He’s like. We see His glory, hear His voice.
Maybe it’s the answer to a prayer we’ve been praying for years. Maybe it’s just the right Scripture passage for our circumstance. Maybe it’s someone reaching out as the hands and feet of Jesus to meet a need. Some people call these “God-sightings.” One year at vacation Bible school, the kids wore bracelets reminding them to “Watch for God.”
It is important to stay alert and watching so we don’t miss these moments. If Ben had been on his phone or asleep, he wouldn’t have spotted the side by side guys. We often let ourselves be distracted by phones or work or self, and fail to see God.
And, our opportunities to see Him aren’t just random, about us happening to be in just the right place at the right time. God wants to reveal Himself to those who are looking for Him, “seeking Him,” to use a Biblical term.
He promises, “When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.
We can pray with the Psalmist, “Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Psalm 119:18, or ask like Moses, “Show me your glory, I pray.” Exodus 33:18.
When we ask and seek, He will open the door. “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” Matthew 7:7.
When we do see the “one whom our soul loves,” (Song of Solomon 3:4), it builds our faith and inspires us to follow so we can see what God is going to do next. We can’t help but exclaim and share the news with the people who are traveling with us, and it inspires them too.
So, even though we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7), and are among those who are “blessed because they have not seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:29), there are times the clouds part and we get to see. The day will come when we will see clearly and eternally.
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12
Until then, our hearts echo the words of the beloved from Song of Solomon 2:14,
“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.”
Beautiful Savior, we want to see You. We want to glimpse Your glory and experience Your presence. Please give us more and more moments where we encounter You. Help us to stay alert and expecting You to show up in our days. Open our eyes and expand our vision. Let us freely share the excitement of following You with the people around us. We want to be faithful followers all the time, and we long for the day when our faith will be sight and we will see You face to face.
-Leah
Two Sisters. One Amazing Savior. 