God's presence is more than a moment we experience. His presence is where transformation happens.
In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul says that as we behold the glory of the Lord, we are “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” Darren uses this passage as the foundation for a powerful reminder that God has called us to become more like Jesus. His presence isn't simply meant to make us feel something. It is meant to change us.
Throughout Scripture, we see people encounter the glory and presence of God and leave those encounters different than they were before. Moses asked God, “Show me your glory,” and his encounters with God changed him. Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up and became deeply aware of both God's holiness and his own need for cleansing. Peter began as an ordinary fisherman, but through his relationship with Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, he was transformed over time.
That transformation doesn't always happen through a dramatic encounter. Some of the most important work God does in our lives happens through the quiet, day-to-day pursuit of Him. As we make time to behold Jesus, listen to Him, trust Him, and remain in His presence, He continues working in us. We may go through different seasons where God deals with different areas of our lives, but the direction remains the same: becoming more like Christ.
God's presence can be a place of rest, trust, and refuge, but it can also reveal things in us that need to change. Sometimes we avoid God's presence because we don't want His light to expose what we're holding onto. But when we learn to love His presence, we begin to welcome that light. God doesn't reveal our hearts to reject us. He brings things into the light so He can cleanse, restore, and transform us.
The goal isn't simply to have a powerful experience at church or feel the presence of God during worship. The goal is transformation. When we are with Jesus, we become more like Jesus. That is true for individuals, and it is true for the church. Faith Church's passion for God's presence is not about creating an atmosphere or drawing attention to people. It is about making room for God to have His way and allowing His glory to shape who we are.
Darren challenges us to stay hungry for God's presence and to keep moving from glory to glory. Like Moses, we can ask God to show us His glory. Like the early disciples, we can allow His presence to change us. And like Paul describes in 2 Corinthians, we can continue being transformed into the image of Christ.
The journey of becoming like Jesus is not completed overnight. It happens as we continue to behold Him, pursue Him, and make room for Him to work in our lives. And one day, when we see Him face to face, that transformation will be complete. “We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
God's presence isn't just something we experience. His presence transforms us.
