HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO HIS FACE?

“Look and Live” (Numbers 21:9) February 28, 2009 Have you lately looked into Jesus’ face? Looking intently, sincerely, hopefully and beseechingly into the face of Jesus is a marvelous and life changing experience. You cannot just glance in passing, but to receive the miracle of renewal there must be an enthralling, concentrated and meditative gaze. Have you looked into His face as He hung on the cross? Have you seen your pain of sin in His eyes! Matthew 27 tells us that after the soldiers had crucified Jesus they sat down and watched Him. It was only after Jesus died, the earth shook and rocks were broken, the saints who had died were resurrected and came out of their graves, that the soldiers really saw Jesus for Who He was, “Truly this was God’s Son.” Looking at Jesus will change anyone who earnestly looks into His face! First you must clear away the fog and smog which has blown in from the compromising circumstances around you, which you have embraced. You have to clear out all the cobwebs of spiritual inactivity you have allowed to remain in your soul. You have to cleanse yourself of the overt and hidden sins you have rationalized. They all have to be confessed and forsaken. Only after all fog, cobwebs and filth have been purged from your life are your eyes able to clearly see again the beauty of Jesus. Just look at Jesus’ “friendly” face. He wants to speak with us face to face as a man would speak with a friend. Look at His expression of acceptance and love. He calls you by name and looks and speaks of His favor toward you and as He looks at you, you can see His glory, mercy, grace and goodness. How can you help but notice His face. As you gaze, see the glory of His name shining forth. Do you see your “Savior,” your “Head Lifter,” the “Compassionate One,” the “Christ,” the “King of Kings,” the ” Life,” “Light” and “Living Water,” and so much more.! Look! That “Light” you see is to illumine Himself to those in darkness. It is to warm and soften your heart that has grown cold and hard. It is to reveal to you that the light within you is the very character of Him Who is Light. It is to shine light on the stumbling stones, pits and traps in your path as well as the well marked crossroads. Do you see the glory of His name “Head Lifter” in His face? When you are bent down with heart pain, depression or discouragement He is the only One Who just speaks and looks with love and the pain and discouragement must go. So keep looking into that face! It certainly lifts up my head to experience His compassion. Sometimes we see His look of compassion in a word or phrase from His Word or a kind word or deed by others. That look says, “If I see the sparrow fall do I not see, know and care about your heartache?’ As you look into His face you will see His eyes are filled with forgiveness, care and hope for you. Do you see that smile on His face as He desires to manifest Himself as your Shepherd (provider, guide, protector and deliverer); as your only peace; always there through thick and thin; your healer; your victor and righteousness! No wonder He is smiling – just waiting to show Himself mighty on your behalf! His face is “findable.” He has plans for you for good and hope for the future, so seek His face with your whole heart you will find Him. Moses couldn’t look at God’s face lest he die, but when you look at Jesus’ face you too must die – to self. If you have turned away from the place where you first saw His face and confessed Him as Savior, return and look again into that dear face. He is waiting! Look and Live! The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ S. McEachern There is a place here by Me, a cleft in this rocky land, Stand, and when My glory passes; I will cover thee with My hand. I know thee by thy name; in My sight thou hast found grace, I will show to thee My glory, but ‘tis death to see My face. Mercy, grace and goodness: glistered by in brilliant white, The glory of His mighty name, incandesced; blazing bright, Filled with holy wonder, awestruck; stood Moses in his place; God’s glory in a portion passed, but ‘twas death to see His face. Marred more than any man His face; smitten slapped, and spit upon; There the glory of His love shone forth; and revealed the heart of God. My longing heart gazed at Calvary’s dark’ at the glory of that place; In faith I cried out to Him and found—‘tis life to see His face. Helen H. Lemmel put it so succinctly, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”