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"The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE" (Ezekiel 48:35 NIV).
Some of my most precious memories are those of my early experiences as a follower of Christ. When Christ first became a reality in my life, I wanted everyone to know what had taken place. I wanted all my friends and family to know the Savior who had changed and forgiven me. Not long after I came to know Christ, several of my friends also came to a personal knowledge of the Savior.
We began meeting together early in the morning spending time in prayer. We would read the Bible and memorize Scripture verses. There was such a sweetness about God's presence in those early meetings with God. The aroma of His being there lingers with me 36 years later. It was amazing to me that the God who created the universe would manifest Himself to me during those quiet moments.
My heart was filled and overflowing each morning. There were no great flashes of lightening or crashes of thunder. There was the simple, quiet presence of God. However, there was something I didn't know at that time. God would lead me to every corner of this planet to proclaim His name. And the great wonder and thrill I would discover is that He would be present no matter where I went or what I encountered.
I've been arrested three times for proclaiming the gospel. I've walked into a revolution, the aftermath of an attempted genocide, and been in the middle of nations torn by war and ethnic hatred. I've been threatened with bombings, had knives put to my throat and guns pointed at me. But God has always been there with me. He has been Jehovah/Shammah - God, who is ever present. I've met Him when I've seen tremendous and exciting things taking place and also when I've been at the point of discouragement and disappointment. He's consistently revealed Himself as Jehovah/Shammah.
The first time we see the name Jehovah/Shammah (God who is ever present) is in the last chapter of Ezekiel. The prophet spoke that a city should be built and its name should be called Jehovah/Shammah. It was the word that God's people needed at that very moment. They were in desperate need of encouragement. And there's no better encouragement than to know that God is present with you.
Yet, as followers of Christ, we have an even more incredible promise. Before Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, He told His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of the nations. Then He promised them, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matt. 28:20 NIV). His presence isn't confined to the four walls of a city. He's promised that His presence will be with us no matter where we go or what we face. He will presence Himself in the inner recesses of our hearts. Hallelujah! In the midst of defeat, He will be there. In the throes of discouragement, He will be there. On the mountain tops of victory, He will be there. In the face of danger, He will be there. At the times of trials, He will be there. He is certainly Jehovah/Shammah - God, who is ever present.
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