Coram Deo

In the 16th century a Latin phrase came out of the reformation that Martin Luther often used in his teaching. It was that the essence of the Christian life was to live … "Coram Deo." What it literally means is … "Before the face of God."

What Luther was saying is simply … "Live your life as if you are in the presence of God" … which in truth you are.

Many times Christians without realizing it behave and live their lives, not for God, but for those around us who are watching how we live. So ask yourself this question, when you are alone and in secret, do you live … differently … than when you are in public where most of us subconsciously seek the approval and acceptance of others?

What Martin Luther was saying is that we should not have two different lifestyles; one where we are alone and in secret, hidden where we behave differently than when we are being seen by others. But rather, we should live our lives openly in the presence of God, before the face of God, practicing a consciousness of God moment by moment.

Nicholas Herman was an old French Carmelite monk in the seventeenth century who called this type of lifestyle … "The Practice of the Presence of God."

According to his own words, to maintain a consciousness of God he said … "When wandering thoughts would invade my mind and take possession of the place of God; I proceeded straightway to expel them and return to my commune with God."

He went on to say … "We cannot always disregard the outward things that are around us. That is impossible."

Truthfully, none of us can live each moment of each day as if we are literally in a constant sense of God. Every action of our lives is not always done for His honor and glory. To put this into practice is not a simple thing to do.

We make promises to God with the intension of keeping them but usually we fall back into our old patterns where we live truthfully, in the absence of God, sometimes even in defiance of God.

So what does it mean to please God, living each moment in "Coram Deo" … before the face of God?

One way is not only to live our life in the presence of God, before the face of God, but also under the authority of God and to the honor and glory of God. That's what it's all about.

It is not simply to make a commitment to Him, but it will also be necessary to press on through those times when we fail to make any headway in our spiritual growth. Some of us give up as soon as we hit a roadblock, some obstacle that gets in our way of spiritual growth. Many times we fail and decide we have come as far as we will ever be able to go. Your mental attitude will determine how you respond to each situation. We must never give up; we must never quit. Press on through.

You may say … "I'm not called to do this or that; it's beyond my abilities." That may be true, but all of us are called to please God. (1st Thessalonians 4:1)

Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 6:33 … "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Later in Matthew 11:12, Jesus says … "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

The violent may mean those who oppose God's kingdom, like the Roman army in His day, who used violence and force against it.

R.C. Sproul, one of my favorite teachers, looks at this phrase, "the violent take it by force" from another direction and believes what Jesus meant was … "Those who mean business about pleasing God, those who press in and press on through to the Kingdom of God cannot be nonchalant, casual, unconcerned, showing no effort in their pursuit of that kingdom. But rather they are like men of violence who storm the enemy in battle … until they break through."

Let me try and give an illustration of violent pursuit this way. My lovely wife is always misplacing something, many times by just carrying an item from room to room. Somehow it just disappears from her hand and she knows not where. The reason this happens … something distracted her from the goal she had in mind for that item.

Now the pursuit.

Every room, every closet, every cabinet and drawer is opened up and searched in her pursuit of the lost or misplaced item she is looking for. Her pursuit is scriptural because Jesus said that when you lose something of value, like a silver coin, you sweep the house until it is found. It may not always be a violent pursuit, but it always requires effort.

What pleases God is someone who signs up for the duration, someone who is not a quitter, someone who does not give up too easily; someone who is seeking first the Kingdom of God each day of his life. Seeking the Kingdom of God is not something non-believers do; but it should be the "first" business believers take care of.

It is a lifelong pursuit.

Can we live in the presence of God? Can we live … "Coram Deo" … before the face of God?

To answer yes to these two questions, R.C. Sproul says … "You may have to do violence to the enemy and storm through some obstacles" … like doubt and unbelief, including your own will as you press on through in the pursuit of your part in the Kingdom of God.

Violence and effort may be needed, but if you listen real close, you will hear the Lord whisper to your heart … "Don't worry, I'm with you."



Comments welcome.