This is a thought that I have been dwelling on lately:
I find it intriguing how we sense God has progressed throughout time. In my view, there have been three distinct ways that people have sensed God throughout time.
The first way people sensed God was through hearing. I know in the Garden of Eden that Adam got to walk and talk with God, but that was extremely special and obviously did not last very long. Due to this, for the majority of the Old Testament, the way people sensed God was through hearing. There are many examples of God speaking to people (Moses, Samuel, Abraham, the list could go on) in the Old Testament. Although there are some other ways that people sensed God during those times (Daniel’s visions and dreams, God revealing His glory to Moses, etc.), most of the time we hear about stories in the Old Testament it is about somebody hearing the voice of God.
The second way people sensed God was through sight. When Jesus came to the earth to be the propitiation for our sins, He was the embodiment of God. During this amazing time, people actually got to see God. They got to witness some of Jesus’ miracles, teachings, death on the cross, and ultimately His resurrection. I believe that the people that got to actually see the miracles of God first hand had a stronger sensory experience with God than the people that heard His voice in the Old Testament.
The third way people sense God is through feeling. When Jesus ascended into Heaven he promised the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, John 16, etc.) to His followers. We can definitely see that the promise of the Holy Spirit came true shortly thereafter (Pentecost). So, believers nowadays get to experience something that believers throughout the ages preceding the ascension of Jesus never got to experience. We get to FEEL God!! His presence and His power indwells our body (I Cor 3:16)!
I think a lot of times believers neglect how awesome their walks with God could be. We get jealous of believers from the Bible, and we say we wished we could physically hear or see God. Instead, we are allowed to be closer to God than anyone has ever had the chance to. Jesus said it was better for us that He left and sent the Holy Spirit (John 16). I wished I could grab on to that statement, and actually live my life like that.
Hope this thought encourages you today!!
