And I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See the home of God is among mortals. He
will dwell with them as their God, they will be his peoples and God himself will be with
them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes."
How important is it to keep a promise? Have you ever experienced the
pain of having a promise broken by either family or friends? We know the importance of
keeping the promises we have made to others. In all relationships, trust is based on
promises kept, and relationships are built on that trust. The same is true of our
relationship with God.
The Bible tells us, story after story, of how God has consistently
acted in grace – often to an undeserving people. One of the great promises in the
Sinai Covenant is listed as a blessing, a reward for obedience to the covenant: "I
will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people." (Leviticus 26:12)
As the Israelites wandered in the desert, the visible presence of God was with them in the
Tabernacle and in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
The Word of God became flesh in Jesus, the Messiah, God’s presence
with us. Jesus promised that he would send the Holy Spirit to continue his presence in our
midst after he physically departed from this world to reign with his Father in heaven. The
presence of God for all Christians is both a present reality and a future promise.
Today, the presence of God remains visible to us in the Word, in the
sacraments, and in our call to obedience as we serve one another. This presence is also a
future promise, because in eternity all the saints will enjoy a new intimacy with God, an
intimacy which is impossible in a world where sin and death are still present.
The One bringing about this promise is Jesus Christ, and through
God’s grace we can trust in the fulfillment of this gracious promise: "I will
dwell among you and be your God, and you will be my people."
Lord, grant us the eyes of faith to see your presence in our
world and to live with the promise of your presence in eternity.
