Beyond the SurFACE

The surf on the beach does not tell the whole story of the ocean.

White foamed crests that gingerly slap at your feet, back dropped by the sunset is a classic still shot ready to be posted on your online Snapfish Photo Gallery. No need to Photoshop or airbrush it. That is a picture that 'speaks a thousand words'...or does it?

Facts are that there is a churning beneath the beauty that stirs up sand, shells, crabs, jellyfish, seaweed, plank board and who knows what else! Shark or barracuda could be lurking beneath the glistening waves if you let yourself stop to think about it for a second! Stingrays could put a shock on you like a water taser on steroids! Riptides sweep away the unsuspecting as they frolic in saltwater! Even other people can quietly sneak up from your rearguard, disguised by the captivating, symphonic water sounds of the calm tide and dunk you like no body's business!

Think about that the next time you google at all inclusive beach vacations in Jamaica while watching the Beach Channel on HD in January!

Everybody knows that its what's 'beneath' the surface that counts. A house may have the Better Homes and Gardens Community Award, but it is the unseen foundation that makes the house livable. Your breath can be taken away by the brilliance of spring leaves, but it is the root system of the tree that assures nourishment and stability to every branch. There's more to an iceberg than what meets the eye! Give me a garden onion on my salad...and thanks for knocking off the dirt from the ground that you pulled it out of...

You tired of the superficial? You tired of being superficial?

"The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." Exodus 33:11

Whatever was on God's face as He spoke to Moses reflected His heart. In whatever way that God drew near to Moses, there was no doubt that He revealed the depths of Himself to His servant. Here's the kicker...as Moses was experiencing the depths of God, the rest of the people were outside watching for and waiting for their leader and friend. They were not experiencing what became the custom between God and Moses...real, personal and intimate relationship. That is how 'friends' are supposed to relate to one another...beyond the seen to the unseen, a special place reserved for the most well acquainted.

Do you know God in this kind of way? A 'friendship' way?

Our impressions of God are stymied by what we have seen, heard or experienced rather than deepened by taking off our own masks and looking into His face one on one. Jesus said that he would reject no one who would come to Him. The Apostle James urges us to 'draw near to God and He will draw near to you.' This is no small thing. This is not a trite invitation or promise. The experience of Moses' regular approach to God inspires you and I to desire more than what is obvious in our relating to Him.

No wonder that when one of the hardened soldiers who executed Jesus praised God saying:

"Surely this was a righteous man." Luke 23:47

How did the Sergeant know that?

He looked beyond the surFACE.