Face to Face

God isn't necessarily right-handed, even if the Scripture does say, "I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10 NIV) Both of His hands are equally strong, I'm sure, but our use of the term makes the difference significant. In many cultures of the world, the place at the right hand is one of respect or honor, and even left-handed people use their right hands for the traditional hand-shaking used to greet, congratulate, express agreement, or say goodbye.

In a time of testing or trouble, I am encouraged by the familiar promises of God that He holds me by the hand. He upholds me with His right hand, representing all His power to keep me from destruction and all His righteousness to keep me from sin. And He holds my right hand. "I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13 NIV) The Father extends His right hand to me while we walk together, and I place my right hand in His. He holds it tightly; my safety does not depend on my own sometimes-weak grasp.

Two who walk together with hands clasped ordinarily join a right hand and a left. The walk with God is different, for with His right hand, He takes me by my right hand. This means that we must face each other. Not only is there strength and security in the walk with God, but there is intimate fellowship is well. When I face difficulty, His strong, unfailing hand holds my faltering, weak one—and I have only to look up to see His face! When the path is more pleasant or easy, I still keep my hand in His, not turning to one side or the other, not looking back or trying to peer ahead—and I have only to look up to see His face!

"Whenever, though, [we] turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there [we] are—face-to-face! [We] suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." (II Corinthians 3:16-18 MSG)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.