Exodus 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
The content of this verse exploded before my eyes—as I read it the other morning. God meeting with us…what a powerful experience. As an Anabaptist people, we need it so badly. I experienced it recently: while sharing at a sexual abuse seminar, we had some very clear moments of God meeting with us as a group. There was much pain, crying, praying, care from others in small groups, and healing. It is an experience that so many seek—and even try to fabricate. This experience is God-made, not man-made.
However, it’s no coincidence that the place God was promising to meet with his people in the above verse—was in the Holy of Holies. It was the central and most sacred part of the tabernacle. Today, since our bodies are the temple of God, I wonder… Is our Holy of Holies really holy? Have our hearts been cleansed and sprinkled? Or is that area piled full of garbage and destroyed relationships? Holiness is imperative for every believer. Hebrews 12 tells us we will not see God without it.
That’s not all, though. I was blown away with the reality of the picture—God Himself was painting. As important as holy living is for every believer, it still is not enough. In the middle of the Holy Place—was the Ark of the Covenant. On top of the Ark, God placed the mercy seat. That is where God chose to meet his people. Even after our best, most meticulous efforts at holiness, the only place God meets us is still at the mercy seat. It is only through God’s mercy—that divinity can mingle with humanity. When that happens, those who experience it deeply will never be the same.
— Jeremy Sensenig