The Divine Disappearance

Leviticus 26:3–4; 14–16 (HCSB)

“If you follow My statutes and faithfully observe My commands, I will give you rain at the right time, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit.

“But if you do not obey Me and observe all these commands—if you reject My statutes and despise My ordinances, and do not observe all My commands—and break My covenant, then I will do this to you: I will bring terror on you—wasting disease and fever that will cause your eyes to fail and your life to ebb away. You will sow your seed in vain because your enemies will eat it.”

There are consequences of obedience—blessing, provision, protection, liberty, the Divine Presence.

There are consequences of disobedience—scarcity, want, defeat, oppression, the Silence of God.

We have to take stock of our lives. Sometimes God will withdraw His presence for a while—or so it seems—to teach us or test us. But when there is sin in our lives there is always the withdrawing of God’s hand and presence. We cry out, “Where are You, God?” He must answer, “Right where I said I would be—waiting for you to repent.”

Someone once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Are we living our lives open to the examination of the Holy Spirit? When we have sin in our hearts we will not want Him to search us. But do you desire His presence more than anything? Open your heart to Him. Allow Him to reveal your sin. Don’t argue, but confess that sin to God as sin. Don’s seek to justify. What do you want, justification for your sin or the presence of God? You cannot have both. You must be ruthless with yourself. Allow the Holy Spirit to purge your heart of all that is offensive to His holiness. Root it all out. Then the light of His presence will break through and shine in your heart again.

Ask Him to examine your heart now.