His Presence

If you love somebody, what you long for more than anything else is that person’s presence with you. Photos are a comfort. Telephone calls, emails and texts are nice. Letters are good. Zoom and FaceTime are great ways to communicate. Yet, as has been brought home to us acutely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, nothing can compare to actually spending time with them in person. What Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden when they sinned was *the presence of God*. Even more than possessing the law, the distinguishing feature of Israel was *God’s presence with them*. The temple was not primarily a place of sacrifice but *a place of God’s presence*. The exile was such a disaster for the people of God because they were *away from God’s presence*. God promised to be in the midst of his people again. This promise was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He promises to be with you.