“For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of Yahweh was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.”
(Ex. 40:38 LSB) https://accordance.bible/link/read/LSB#Ex._40:38
How cool would it be to have the visible presence of the Lord with us at all times? Israel could be assured, no matter their circumstances, that God was always with them because the cloud of God was always in their presence. Day and night Israel could see the presence of God with them by the cloud during the day and the fire at night. Comforting, terrifying, unsettling when things were not well, glorious when God blessed them. The cloud and the fire needed only to be looked upon by anyone to know for certain God was with them. When God lived among us as one of us in Jesus the Savior the disciples too took comfort in His presence and grieved when He told them He was returning to the Father. They too wanted permanently the presence of God among them. There was great comfort in having Jesus visible, tangible and practical. God had other plans. Better He said that He leaves than that He stays. God wanted and wants to be with everyone, in everyone, manifesting His presence through everyone. Now this is possible through those who are born again. What does the visible presence of God in our lives look like? It is when those around the follower of Jesus see Jesus through our words and deeds. It is when Jesus is glorified, desired and honored by men in our presence that the presence of God is in us working through us for accomplishing His purpose by us. The Holy Spirit, the presence of God in a Christian, is given for revealing Jesus to us and through us. God is present everywhere and visible everywhere, everywhere Christians are living such a life that causes men to glorify God in Jesus the savior. We see Jesus when we reveal Jesus to others by living and speaking like Jesus through the presence of Jesus in us, the Holy Spirit. God is visible when His people lift Him up in Jesus the Savior so that He can draw all people to Himself showing Himself among us.
