The other night my wife and I were putting boxes away in the storage room. As we stepped outside the basement door I looked up and was amazed. The sky was filled with brilliant orange and purple. I looked between the trees and had just a small window to take it all in. Meanwhile, my sister was on the lake and was able to see the light in all of its glory. It wasn’t until I talked with her the next day that I found out she was in the right place at the right time to catch every beautiful detail of the setting sun over-and-on the lake.
I caught the sky for a brief moment; but my sister was enveloped by light.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. —Psalm 16.11 ESV
Look closely at that second line, “in your presence there is fullness of joy”. It was one thing for me to know about the sunset that was happening between the trees and see some color. It was another thing for my sister to witness the event and be soaked in light. The true fullness of joy only comes from being in God’s presence.
God isn’t someone to know about. He is one to know, and be known by. The kind of intimacy that God desires to have with us is incomparable. There is no comparing my casual glance at a pretty sky, and the basking in a sunset-glow. There is no comparing a casual knowledge about God and having a transformed heart because of Him and His love.
I want to encourage you today to listen to the witness of those who have seen the light up close and personal, and position yourself better to know God, not just know about Him. If transformation is what you want, then get in the boat and witness His glory!
—Pastor Whit