Let my face shine

For the last 10 days, my church has had the thrilling opportunity to go through a Revival. We had the blessing of having Roy Fields of Run with Fire Ministries come to Kingston and serve the Lord through ministering to our congregation as well as the greater area.

The journey through Revival has been, and continues to be, almost impossible to scribe. But then again, aren't emotions and faith almost always? What words exist in our language to fully capture the glory of God and the way the Holy Spirit works?

As the team prepared to leave on Sunday and the Revival was wrapping up, there was a deep sense of sadness and uncertainty. Some I spoke to even said that in their spirits, they didn't feel it was time for him to leave. Comments like that make me stop and think. Roy's departure also comes at a time when our Pastor leaves for India for two weeks. The theme that I was picking up from so many was this: how can they leave us know? How can they leave us after this mountain top experience? What will happen to us? What are we to do?

Exodus 34:29 "It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai ...that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him."

Exodus 34:35 "the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone. "

The story of Moses on the mountain top came to mind. After being in the presence of God on Mt. Sinai and receiving instruction from the Lord, Moses then came down from Mt. Sinai to deliver the Lord's instructions to the Israelites. However, Moses didn't know at the time that his face shone so brightly that it would cause him to wear a veil as to not blind the Israelites.

The answer to the questions lie in this simple passage. We are not called to live on the mountain top. We are called to live in the valley. The mountain top is only the time that we stand in the presence of God; the time that God Himself touches us. We receive in such a way from God in those precious times that they fill our spirit and our soul.

However, just as Moses, we are to descend from the mountain top and, with faces shining from the presence of God, be a light and a reflection of the glory of God. After all, if Moses had remained on the mountain, what would have happened to the Israelites?

So, embrace the time on the mountain but know that there is a time to be in the valley as well. What will happen now that Roy has gone and Vaughan has left? Nothing. They weren't the ones who touched my heart, it was the Holy Spirit and He never leaves me.