Face "Value"

Lots O' Faces

I have a friend who used to say,“I love your face,” or “I miss your face..” At first this was extremely uncomfortable for me... I totally did not understand such statements, and par for the course for human beings, what I did not understand, I did not like. Then over time, (it’s actually still cooking in my heart and mind:) this issue became more intriguing to me and just a bit more clear. I started thinking about how much I miss my friend whom I have not physically seen now for, I guess about a year. I wrote a song called, “Just Another Day” on one of those extra “missing” days. There is a line in the song that says, “And I miss your face my friend, I think I finally understand...” What I didn’t “fully” understand when I wrote that was how valuable the face really is; just how much the face identifies and represents the “presence” of a person. I’m not alone in this, there are many instances in the Bible where people were missing one another and longed to be “face to face” with each other. So I started searching for details (from the Bible) to fill in the blanks of my understanding. I found the use of the word “face” a number of times from Genesis to Revelation and almost every book in between. I found that when the word was used in the sense of, “face to face,” it really meant that someone wanted to be in the presence of another person or of God. To “miss someone’s face” would be to miss their presence. In Acts chapter 20 (vs 32-38) Paul is saying goodbye to those with whom he has been ministering. They were “especially grieving....that they would see his face no more.” In 2 John verse 12, John says, “Having many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.” Sometimes paper and ink won’t do, a picture just isn’t good enough, a phone call is not adequate, even an mp4 video won’t suffice, I guess even a web cam can’t do what a “face to face” meeting can do. It’s the “presence” of a person we are seeking and it’s the “Presence” of God that we can experience even today. Moses spoke “face to face” with God on a regular basis. (Ex. 33:11) Moses did not actually “see” the face of God, because scripture is clear that NO ONE has seen the face of God and lived, (Ex. 33:20- 23; Jn. 1:18) but Moses was in the Presence of God. God’s Presence up close and “personal.” “Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.”.... a two way conversation, being in the tangible “presence” of another. Face value, the value of “face to face” is to be in the presence of a friend, or even in the very Presence God, and to have joy and or experience the glory of the Lord personally. Jesus made that possible for us, through His death on the cross, to come into the presence of the Lord Himself, to seek His Face and to find Him; to draw near in a personal way to the Lord God Almighty. We all need to hold on to and increase those times of intimacy with the Lord, and know that a face to face encounter with our friends can and will bring us joy, but there is a day coming when we will be “face to face” with our Lord, not just in His presence, but literally “face to face” and in that moment we will know as we are fully known. (1 Cor. 13:12) That glorious day when we will be able to look right into His eyes? to touch His face, to kiss the face of God. I don’t know about you, but I sure do get excited about my face to face meeting with my God and my King! The day when the value of the “face,” indeed, “FACE VALUE” will be fully comprehended, fully realized, and experienced for eternity. Rev 22:4 they will see His face, and His name {will be} on their foreheads. Peace In, Big D:) May 18, 2009 dh Face Value

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