I used to believe there is no God, primarily because I couldn’t see Him. I know this perspective isn’t unique to me. However, since I came to my senses and became a born-again believer, I see that God reveals Himself in many observable ways, most notably through creation, as the Bible says. The evidence of His existence is so apparent in what He has made that those who fail to acknowledge Him are choosing not to see. Consequently, they will have no excuse when they face Him after their life ends, having never formed a salvation relationship with Him. (Rom. 1:20)
While the visible elements of His creation sufficiently testify of His existence, He also communicates facets of His nature wisely and mysteriously through the intangible order He established. Here are three examples:
1. East
God attaches His glory and the return of Christ to the east. On some level, even pagans know that, otherwise they would not have shut and sealed the Eastern gate in Jerusalem. Speaking about His second coming, Jesus Himself said, For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matt 24:27)
He will fulfill Old Testament prophesy: Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. (Ezek. 43:1-2)
This is no surprise, considering His rising-sun glory appears every single day without fail in the east. For now, it pictures His glory. In heaven, the sun rising in the east will no longer be necessary, because we’re actually going to have Jesus in His glory with us physically. Rev 21:23 says, And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
2. North
North is also important for its own reason. God attaches promotion as well as judgment to the north. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. (Psa. 75:6) That only leaves north! When believers die and are promoted to glory, that will be north where God is. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psa. 48:1-2)
Even Satan knows this. Look what he said when he was Lucifer, the son of the morning: For thou (Lucifer) hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. (Isa. 14:13) Uh, No.
Enemies who are vessels of God’s judgment also come from the north. Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. (Jer. 4:6) The evil God brought from the north was Babylon, sent to judge Jerusalem.
During the tribulation, Israel's enemies will invade from the north. The coalition of nations will be led by “Gog of the land of Magog.” (Ezek. 38:2) And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army. (Ezek. 38:15)
3. Right hand
God’s blessings and strength are associated with His right hand. Jesus laid this out when He described how it’s all going to go down in the end: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:33-34)
Even Jacob, later named Israel, followed this pattern, and with his right hand he bestowed blessings on Joseph’s son Ephraim. (Gen 48:13-20)
Consider Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)
Just picture, our all-powerful Father, who has strength beyond our understanding, chooses to dispatch it on our behalf with his right hand. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. (Psa. 20:6)
These three things show God’s intricate design in ways we would never think to even imagine. How awesome is our God!
R&J Shee