When you read through scriptures, you discover that it is a possibility for the Presence of God, His Glory, to dwell visibly and tangibly with men. Men carried God so much that even their enemies attested to it (Exodus 14:24-25).
Is this still possible in recent times? Can men still carry God this much? Can the Glory of God so much invade a territory all because a man stepped in?
Let me start by making this clear; Consistently throughout scriptures, there are about four dimensions of the presence of God:
1) God first inhabits everything and holds all things together (Col 1:17). He is everywhere.
2) A second dimension of God is His in dwelling Holy Spirit in the lives of those who are born again.
3) The third dimension of His presence is seen when believers gather in His name (Matt 18:20). I call this the "Emmanuel Dimension".
4) The fourth dimension is the revealed or the manifested presence of God. This type was what was seen when Solomon dedicated the temple. God came so profoundly that the priest could not minister. (1 Kings 8:10-11)
This is the Glory, The manifested presence of God. This is what is of interest to me. What does it take for a man to experience and sustain an atmosphere where the glory of God can find easy access into his life?
Exodus 33:14 "And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."
This means, the system that has been laid down through which God grants rest is by Access to His Presence. So as long as you know what to do to ensure that his presence, not just his presence, His glory abides with you, then rest is assured. You can look at the life of many Christians and tell that there is truly no rest. Everyone has something to complain about. But God says there's a possibility for you to go on with your daily work and not be stressed, there's a constant means of revitalizing - His presence. So you can work and work in rest, you can read and read in rest.
Big question, how then do you access the glory?
Exodus 33:18 "And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory."
This was Moses' heart cry and genuinely should be our heart cry to as Christians. God gives him an interesting reply.
Exodus 33:20 "And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live."
Moses didn't ask to see God's face, no. He asked to see his Glory. How can God say no one who sees His face will live, when the same scripture tells us that "God speaks to Moses Face to Face as a man speaks to his friend" This means there's more to what this scripture is saying, God says "No man shall see me and live". It means the prerequisite for actually experiencing the Glory of God and by implication carrying His presence is death. This was God telling Moses, you want to see my Glory? Moses you have to die! Only Dead men can become envoys of His Glory.
This was what Paul meant when he said in 1 Corinthians 15:31 "... I die daily". This is death to the flesh. Death to not just the gratification of the desires of the flesh, but death to the desires of the flesh themselves. Paul says "This is a daily process" The presence of God is a full time assignment. It requires every time in your life time.
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Have your goals been crucified with Christ? Have your desires been crucified with Christ? Has your will been crucified with Christ? Has it stopped being about you? Has it started being about Him? Do you reckon that it is not you, but Christ who lives in you? You have the things you want to do, you have your will, yes! But have you laid it down to him? Because that is when you have truly died!
It's not gonna be easy now, no one said it would. But if this is what it would take to experience the glory of God and become Stewards of His Presence, then it's worth it. After-all, this is the way to rest. No wonder Paul said to Labor to enter into this rest! You must pay the price for death. No death, No glory. This is when you can cry like Moses and like Paul cried!
Philippians 3:10 [10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
And His reply would be, are you ready to die?