"TO TURN AWAY,
JUST FOR A MOMENT"Rene Phillips Qualls
It's 2:45 a.m., on October 20, 2000. Yesterday was a wonderful Holy Day, the Last Great Day. My little son, Thomas, asked me if the Feast of Tabernacles was over, and I told him, "Yes, it is. Now we are looking forward to the Passover, in the spring."
I am awake, because I have been conversing with God. I am sitting here at my computer, in the dark, because He has moved me to write now. So, I will put down my thoughts, my conversation with my Father.
As Christians, we staunchly proclaim that God lives in us. We talk about it, and the statement falls so easily from our tongues. We feel so "holy," so much better than those who don't "have" the Holy Spirit. We feel so sorry for those "in the world," the poor souls whose eyes have not been opened yet. We swell up with self importance, and feel a condescending benevolence to the rest of God's children. As for me, there I have stopped, and therein lies my problem.
God is very good about pointing out to me how I overlook Him. I claim that He lives in me, and so He does. I am very happy with this living arrangement. It gives me something to boast about. I can say, "I am so blessed. God lives in me." But, is He happy with it? Does He like living in me, is He comfortable in my heart? How can He be, when I turn away from Him, and sin right in His face? Why don't I see that just because I have averted my face from Him, He is looking right at me? Am I so ridiculous that I think, like a child playing hide and seek, if I close my eyes, He can't see me? I guess I am, because my track record of sin certainly suggests it!
I turn away, just for a moment. It doesn't take longer than that for me to sin. To move my eyes from the Light of Him, to look into the darkness. And then, Satan has me. He doesn't need to work too hard to get my attention. He knows everything about me, every way to tempt me. Just a moment for me to glance his way. So, I sin, and to Satan's delight, right in God's house! Do I sicken my Lord? Do I hurt Him? Am I running Him out of His home, here within me? How much longer will my Precious Savior stomach my behavior? How can I stand to break His heart?
When I do sin, I am so apologetic. "Sorry, God. I didn't see You there." That was obvious, because I took my eyes off Him! The "I couldn't help it. Satan caught me in a moment of weakness" excuse wears thin. The frequency with which my "moment of weakness" occurs should give me cause for concern. GOD lives in me. My Most Powerful Heavenly Father. My Carrier of Burdens, Jesus Christ. How can I be so weak, with all that Godly strength and power living in me? Because I turn away, just for a moment.
Our Father in Heaven, and our Savior Jesus Christ, are Holy. Wherever They are, wherever They reside, is Holy. If They live in me, am I holy? I believe I am. Not because of anything I have done, or said, or thought. Of myself, I am nothing, and most unholy. But because of the presence of God in me, and for this reason alone, I am a Holy Dwelling Place for my Lord. I must keep His "house" spotless, free of sin, free of the Devil's whispers. I can do this, because "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). I must do this, because I love Him, and don't want Him to move out.
So, looking forward to the Passover, I will work to change myself. To keep my eyes fixed upon the face of God, where I am safe. To keep His home clean. " . . . to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). To mentally "remove my shoes," because the ground within me is Holy Ground. And, not to turn away. Not even for a moment.
Copyright © 2000 René Phillips Qualls (Used by permission)