Tomorrow my husband will sign the contract on our new church building. I can’t believe Boulevard Chapel, right in the heart of downtown and across from a university, will be ours. It feels surreal. A day we’ve longed for, but quite honestly lost hope over it ever happening. At least in the way it is.
But one thing my study of Exodus over this past year has shown me is God is who He says He is. I AM WHO I AM. When God introduced himself to Moses this way what He was in essence saying is, “I will be actively involved and present with you.”
What it also means is He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So who God was to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to Moses and the Israelites is who He still is for us today. His faithfulness to provide, protect, and fulfill his promises never ceases. And yet, like the Israelites, because He doesn’t always provide, protect and fulfill his promises in the way, or timing, we think He should which is what leads us to doubt his loving-kindness to us.
But as it was with Moses, from the time God first appeared to him in the burning bush, through the Red Sea, and in the wilderness he was learning the great I AM to be exactly who He said He was. I imagine then right before he died when God showed him from the mountain top all the land promised to his descendants, instead of feeling bitterness over not being able to enter into it himself, he must have been filled with praise. God is who He said He is!
Moses knew his ultimate hope to be in the person, not in the place or circumstances.
By God’s grace my sanctification (the lifelong process of growing in Christ-likeness) will bring me to a deeper understanding and trust in this reality.
I know having a church building is not the end all be all, so I pray that He will help us to steward it well. To help us remember His steadfast love and faithfulness ultimately found in none other than the worth and work Christ. May this be our cornerstone. May Redeemer always be a body that exalts Christ in all that we do.
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:5
If you are local join us Sunday in our new building. We will finish up our series in Revelation in August and then officially kick-off in our new space in September. For more info click here.
Or, see Lesson 2 in my new Exodus book for more on I AM WHO I AM!
