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If you’re expecting to receive an important guest, you prepare for the occasion. If a high-ranking public
official, like the president of a country, is to visit a state (sub-national), extensive arrangements are
made—roads are repaired, security is heightened, and public announcements go up.

What kind of preparation then should a person make, who is preparing to meet with their maker, the
Lord God Almighty?

I am not talking about meeting your maker in death, such as is commonly referred to when this subject
comes up. I am talking about a meeting here on earth; the kind that re-energizes the believer’s faith and
rekindles their devotion and service.

In the Old Testament, when God was to visit the children of Israel, they were to “consecrate”
themselves … “wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come
down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people” (Exodus 19:10-11).

If you are to meet the Lord today, what preparation would you make?

“What kind of preparation then should a person make, who is preparing to meet with their maker, the
Lord God Almighty?“

Consecrate Yourself
Separate yourself from things that are unclean. You need to do so because he whom you hope to meet is holy, holy, holy (Revelation 4:8) and his eyes are too holy to behold iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13). It is sin that made us fall short of his glory (Romans 3:23). The good news is that he has provided the means by which we can be cleansed and made fit to come into his presence and stand before him. That is “by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body” (Hebrews 10:20). There is a fountain filled with blood that has been drawn from Immanuel’s veins. When sinners plunge beneath that flood, they lose all their guilty stains. Plunge into that flood as you prepare to meet your Lord.

“Separate yourself from things that are unclean.”

Hunger and Thirst
Jesus promised, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). That’s a pretty strong set of twin longings to have. As Scripture teaches, God does not cast pearls before swine. If you desire to encounter him, you must have an intense, desperate desire for him and his ways. As a starving person craves for food, you must have a spiritual longing for him. When you do, the promise-keeper promises that you will be filled.

The Psalmist cried, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1). David declared, “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). Not just his soul, but also his flesh, the enemy of the spirit, longed not for the desires of the flesh but for God. If this is not your testimony, ask God to birth such holy longings in you. If you have them, he will fill them. The empty jars will continue to be filled with oil as long as they have space.

“If you desire to encounter him, you must have an intense, desperate desire for him and his ways.”

Humble Yourself
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Isaiah 57:15 declares:

For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”’ If he who is high and exalted will visit you, then you must be contrite and lowly in spirit; otherwise, expect opposition from him instead.

This was what Zacchaeus possessed when he got Jesus to detour from his journey and visit his house. Although he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy, he didn’t think too highly of himself when he heard Jesus was passing through Jericho. Have you ever seen a wealthy public official climb a tree? This man laid aside the prestige of his wealth and office and climbed up a sycamore fig tree so he could see Jesus. He got rewarded with a home visit from the eternal Son of God. Without him asking, when Jesus got to the place where Zacchaeus was, he said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19:5). If you humble yourself, you will encounter him.

“If he who is high and exalted will visit you, then you must be contrite and lowly in spirit.”

Seek the Lord
Another aspect of Zacchaeus’ tree-climbing was that he sought the Lord. Scripture says he was small in stature, and for that reason, he could not see Jesus. He didn’t let his height disadvantage deny him a divine encounter. He did all that he could. He turned around and saw a sycamore fig tree and made for it. He climbed it and saw Jesus, and Jesus also saw him. Scripture counsels us: “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). The Lord has promised: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Perhaps why we have not found him is because even when we claim to have sought for him, it has not been wholeheartedly.

Jesus illustrated the required valuation and seeking after the Lord in the parable of the hidden treasure:

“Heaven’s kingdom realm can be illustrated like this: “A person discovered that there was
hidden treasure in a field. Upon finding it, he hid it again. Because of uncovering such treasure,
he was overjoyed and sold all that he possessed to buy the entire field just so he could have the
treasure.” – Matthew 13:44

“Let the price of seeking to encounter him not deter you; give up all else to seek him until you find him.”

Let the price of seeking to encounter him not deter you; give up all else to seek him until you find him.
Seek him in prayer, even with fasting. Seek him in his word, for he reveals himself through his word (1
Samuel 3:21). Seek him in praise and worship, for he inhabits the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3). God
dwells within the atmosphere created by the worship of the saints. God is omnipresent, but there is a
special, manifested presence that occurs when his people actively focus on and worship him.

“God is omnipresent, but there is a special, manifested presence that occurs when his people actively
focus on and worship him.”

Readiness for His Visitation
God is high and exalted; he is immortal and lives in unapproachable light. Yet in mercy, he makes himself
available to be found and encountered by those who seek him.

If you knew that an honoured guest was coming to your home today, you would not remain casual or
distracted—you would prepare. In the same way, prepare your heart for the Lord. Consecrate yourself.
Humble yourself. Hunger and thirst for him. Seek him with all your heart. He still visits those who are
ready. Seek him—and you will find him.

Lord, we make room for you. Visit us again. Rekindle our devotion. Renew our strength. We are ready to
meet with you.
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