Do we want the Presents or the Presence?

I've been struck lately and have been pondering the whole Michael Phelps thing. Disturbing. Disappointing. Sad.

This is what I find so striking: A man whose chest has been covered with gold medals, has achieved international fame, showered with awards, (PRESENTS) and blessed with an incomprehensible amount of money, still feels compelled to press his face to a bong.

What was he searching for at the bottom of that bong? What emptiness in his soul was he trying to satisfy? Do YOU see it? 8 Gold medals...hello! Now there is no debate over whether the 23-year-old is gifted with athletic greatness. He is. And financially Phelps is set for life. It is estimated that his potential earnings will reach somewhere around $100 million.

Emptiness comes when we become satisfied with PRESENTS without PRESENCE.

Enter Exodus 33. God was leading Moses to a promise. Along the way people just like us, obstinate, hard-hearted, wayward, were making the journey with him. Moses would enter the tent of meeting and all the people would arise and stand at the entrance and worship. "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend." Interestingly, Joshua, Moses' servant, must have been hungry, thirsty......for God, for PRESENCE...., as he would not depart from the tent.
Years later as Moses is gone Joshua gets handed the leadership baton. Go. Carry on. Lead. Step out. Faith. Through the Jordan river. Don't you know he thought back to the tent days. How will I lead? Moses is gone! What now? In a word...PRESENCE.
I want to be like Joshua.

During the next few weeks we're talking about the Presence of God as we know it through the Spirit of God. So much of life is lived with limited awareness of the indwelling, enabling POWER of the Holy Spirit residing in those who have put their faith in Christ. We want to take a megaphone and shout, "Get in touch with the Holy Spirit of God". He will enable you. indwell you. encourage you. teach you. be your constant companion.