Face to Face :: By Candy Austin
We’ve been reading through the Old Testament, a chapter each night for our ‘daily bread’ for several years now. This will make it the 5th time that we have started reading through the whole Bible, day by day, with a chapter, if not every, at least most nights of the week. Our routine is that we will begin with prayer for understanding, and then my husband will read the first half of the chapter, and I will read the second half. We find that it becomes more memorable and comprehensible when we take in and share scripture in ‘bite-size increments’ like this.
Back in 2016 was the first year we read through all of God’s Word, and we followed an online one-year Bible reading plan, which had us reading several chapters a day. Overall, we found that it felt like we were just ‘plowing through’ what we had just read, and it left us feeling that we didn’t really comprehend or remember most of it. But we continued on with that reading plan during that year. Since that year, though, we decided that from now on, even if it takes us 2 years to read through the Bible again, we’d rather read it one chapter a night.
So, after my aforementioned nightly reading on the second part of the chapter, my husband will then read a Bible commentary summary on what we just imbibed for further clarification, and sometimes we will even do more research online when a fascinating verse comes up that we want to know more about.
For years now, my articles have been written about things that have come to mind, specifically coming to mind upon waking up. Literally, it’s like the Holy Spirit will give me a topic to write about even before my eyes have fully opened! Lately, the term “Face to Face” has been prevalent in our Old Testament readings, and the other morning, the words “Face to Face” came to mind upon waking and during my morning prayer time. Praying time consists of ending each night in conversation with the LORD before I drift off to sleep and also before getting out of bed to start my day each morning. For without the LORD, we can do nothing!
On that note, when our church sang a song with those very words’ Face to Face’ this past Sunday, I knew it was further confirmation that I needed to try and tackle this topic this week in my article, so here goes.
Genesis 32:30 “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
Exodus 33:11 “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”
Deuteronomy 5:4 “The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire.”
Deuteronomy 34:10 “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.”
Wouldn’t that be awesome if God audibly spoke to us face to face as one who speaks to a friend? In Deuteronomy it details how there has not been a prophet in Israel since the likes of Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face and whom He spoke to as a friend! This is beyond fascinating! Guess what? The Bible also tells us that one day, we too will see our Emmanuel (Who is God with Us) face to face! And not only that, but He will also speak to us as one who speaks to His friend (Moses)!
What a joy that will be, our Jesus we shall finally see! With Hallelujahs, Honors, Glories, and Praises coming from our lips and tears flowing from our eyes! Just at the sheer fact of hearing Him say our names while pronouncing over us, “Well done, my good and faithful servants; you have been faithful over a few things; now I will make you rulers over many things, enter thou into the joy of thy LORD!”
I don’t know about anyone else, but for me, I long for that day when this weary life is finally over and my Jesus I will finally get to see… face to face!
Matthew 25:23 “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
The Bible also tells us that our life here on earth as Christians is like ‘seeing through a glass darkly, but then it will finally be face to face’! That for now, ‘we know in part, but then we will know and be known’! Thinking of this reminds me of the military home reunion videos that are so emotional. Here is one that I found to share here today:
(Be aware… there will not be a dry eye after viewing this! On a further note, think of these reunions but times them all by infinity plus (as an EVENT that is on mega steroids), and that still would not even begin to describe what it will look, feel, and be like when we finally see our LORD JESUS CHRIST face to face! #can.not.wait.)
Soldiers Coming Home Surprise | Most Emotional Compilations:
https://youtu.be/_rr0s4WwxTc?si=Z2zBMbnmgL2loAAO
1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
Here is an in-depth exposition on the term ‘Face to face’ since the Bible has so much to say on this topic, and this author covers so much, if not all, of it:
“We Will See Face To Face”: God’s Face and Our Worship | Bible.org
Truth be told, just to know that there will be a place that those of us who are truly born again can finally call HOME and one where JESUS is (for HE is our FAMILY and our HOME) and a place where there is no more sickness, death, mourning, crying, or pain gives me so much to anticipate and look forward to when this temporary and fleeting life ends!
Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Just know, fellow weary travelers, that Jesus has promised never to leave or forsake us and that He sticks closer than a brother. And when we finally get to see Him, we will realize that this whole time, we were never really alone!
It will be clear that He was right there with us, walking through this rough and narrow path, literally right there beside us, comforting us in ways that we didn’t even know or realize at the time! But soon, during that long-awaited embrace with our Precious Savior, we will fully know then that He was right there with us every step of the way and, more importantly, all along!
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Here is the song that they sang at church this past Sunday that spoke to me and hopefully speaks to you today as well:
The Afters – “Well Done” (Official Lyric Video):
https://youtu.be/X29hPMgKUyM?si=93Goa0aqTe27xclY
Until next time… Maranatha!
Sincerely & In Christ,
Candy Austin
(I have no Accolades….
I am just a Nobody,
Trying to tell everybody,
All about Somebody,
Who can save Anybody!)
My Mission is to be ‘Salt and Light’ to a Lost and Dying world,
To be an Ambassador for Jesus Christ.
All for Him and His Glory!
The post Face to Face :: By Candy Austin appeared first on Rapture Ready.
