The Pathway to God’s Glorious Presence

God has called each of us to be the priests over the temple He has given us — our lives, our bodies, and our sphere of influence. And since we’ve been called by God to take on this task, we should approach it with reverence, commitment, and gratitude.

Remember that as you choose to guard your gates and stand firm against Satan’s temptations, not only will you be glorifying God, but Satan will be impotent to use anything to influence your behavior, values, beliefs, and relationship with the Lord!

What’s the opposite scenario? Failure to stand firm against Satan’s strategies not only brings disaster to your life, but it also blocks you from experiencing intimacy with the Lord. God is holy, and He requires holiness of all those who desire to spend time in His presence:

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts, which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior (1 Peter 1:14-15).

The only way you are made holy is through the blood of Jesus Christ. Once Jesus’ blood covers and purifies your sin nature, you are responsible before God for maintaining your purity through your choices and actions.

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation (Psalm 24:3-5).

Keep in mind that attempts to maintain your purity simply by zealously watching over the gates God has called you to guard will eventually become nothing more than religious striving and futile attempts to obey self-imposed rules. And according to God’s Word, striving to obey religious laws ultimately results in failure (Romans 7).

However, when you . . .

• rely on God and His Word to overcome temptation (Psalm 119:11)
• know that He will deliver you from all temptation (Matthew 6:13)
• trust that Christ in you is your hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)
• believe you can do all things through Him because He gives you strength (Philippians 4:13)
• endeavor to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16)
• resist the devil so that he will flee from you (James 4:7)
• and choose to glorify God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

. . . then you are empowered to continue on the pathway leading to God’s glorious and intimate presence, walking in the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone.

If you feel that you’ve stumbled along this path and feel weak to guard the gates you’ve been asked to protect, we’ve provided a resource below that will help you walk more deeply in the intimacy, grace, and mercy of your Heavenly Father.

I Want to Strengthen my Walk with the Lord