God Always Shows Up

Where is God?

I do know this about His whereabouts. The Almighty One, your and my Creator and Redeemer is not hiding out in some galaxy far, far away. According to His Word, through His Son Jesus Christ, He is right here. Right now.
 
Almighty God makes His home in the hearts of Christians through the Holy Spirit.
 
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price’ therefore, glorify God in your body.”                       I Corinthians 6:19-20
 
Think with me for a moment. If as a Christian, my body is God’s temple where He resides, then why have I heard some Christians use phrases like “When God shows up”
” I am waiting for the Lord to show up.” “God hasn’t shown up yet.” “I sure hope God shows up soon.” I even heard a preacher say from the pulpit in a message recently that “God finally showed up.”
 
Sounds like God has a showing up problem, doesn’t it? I am sorry. This does not line up with scripture.
           
Our verse for this week tells us that God, speaking through Moses, assured Israel that they need not fear the opposing Canaanites in the Promised Land.
 
“You shall not dread them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.”  Deuteronomy 7:21
 
Hey, My people, listen up. No reason to fear anyone or anything. Why? Because their Lord and God, who is a “great and awesome God” would be in their midst. “In your midst” means with you. Right in the middle of things. Not somewhere out there, out of touch with your life. But right here with you every step of the way.
           
God would show up for Israel because He was there with them. Israel did not have to look for God to show up. The show was in town. God was the main attraction. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God is the God who always showed (shows)up.
 
The way I read God’s Word, the God of the Bible is a sovereign God who does show up. Because He is God who does not have to check in with anybody else before He acts, God can show up in any way He wants to.
 
 How God shows up is up to Him, not me!
 
Well-meaning, sincere people of faith can become frustrated when God does not seem to be working on their behalf. It is hard for all of us at times to wait for the Lord to work. Isaiah 64: 5 states “When You didst awesome things which we did not expect, You did come down, the mountains quaked at Your presence. For from of old they have not heard nor perceived by ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides You, WHO ACTS ON BEHALF OF THE ONE WHO WAITS FOR HIM.”
 
Could it be that God shows up on our behalf when we show up to wait on Him?
 
Maybe, just maybe this showing up thing is more about me, than God. What about daily fellowship with the God who is with us? How about worship, prayer, Bible reading, meditation, listening for God’s voice, obedience to His direction and fellowship with fellow believers in Jesus?
 
 I have a feeling if I show up to meet with Him, He will show up because He waits for me to show up!
 
Truth: God does not need to show up. I do.
 
Why We Sometimes Think God Has Not Shown Up
 

• We do not feel God’s presence. We think we must “feel” God.
• God did not show up the way we thought He should show up.
• God did not show up the way He did the last time He showed up.
• God did not show up for me the way He did for another person.
• God did not manifest Himself in some spectacular, miraculous way.
• Our theology regarding a sovereign, merciful God is messed up.
• We have erroneously followed some teaching that you must wait for God to show up.
• We do not know our Bibles well enough to know that God always shows up!!!

 
God cannot not show up. It is not possible for the God who is with us to not show up.
 
 God shows up because He has already shown up! God came to earth as Jesus. Jesus Christ is Immanuel which means “God with us.” God shows up through Jesus in our lives.
 
I have a word for any of you, who like me, like to sense God’s presence every moment of the day. I have learned and continue to learn that the Lord Jesus is with me every moment of everyday. His Word says so. Faith does not have to feel God’s presence. Faith trusts in the promise of God’s presence, especially when we do not feel like He is near.
 
Be encouraged my fellow Christian. No matter what you may be facing at this moment, God is here and near to help you victoriously overcome your challenges.
 
 GOD IS WITH YOU. HE IS FOR YOU. HE IS WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF THIS VERY MOMENT.
 
Just a thought: you and I need to rethink this “showing up” thing.
 

• Could it be that you and I are the ones that need to show up, not God? Pretty good thought huh?

 
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8
 

• If you struggle with God showing up, confess that what you think is not true. It is not biblical. Give it up. Once and for all. Immerse yourself in the Word, studying scriptures that reveal God’s omni-presence in the lives of those who choose to believe in Him.

 
My brothers and sisters in Christ have a great day because GOD IS WITH YOU!!!!!!  
                
“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20b
 
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”    Joshua 1:9
 
“For He Himself has said,” I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”                                                                                                                           Hebrews 13:5
 
A Word For Your Week: When looking for God to show up, you show up first.