When I was growing up my dad drove truck on the weekends to earn some extra money. He’d get up at three AM, get in the truck, and head to the coal dock in Superior. Once there, he’d load up the first of three loads to be brought to the Iron Range. I remember asking one Friday night if I could go with him. I had no idea what I was getting into. What boy wouldn’t want to spend a day around big trucks, seeing front end loaders, and exploring the inner working of power plants? The next morning I woke up earlier than I ever had, grabbed my lunch box, and followed my dad, him with his thermos of coffee and mine full of hot chocolate.

I’d get very little sleep. The days would be long. The seats would be uncomfortable. Believe it or not, the excitement of big trucks and heavy equipment wasn’t enough to hold my attention and desire. But the presence of my dad in the seat beside me had me going day after day. To the best of my memory, there wasn’t a trip my dad took that I didn’t go with if I could. The lack of sleep didn’t matter. The discomfort of sitting in a truck seat didn’t matter. I didn’t care that there was nothing to entertain myself with. It didn’t matter where we were going, I just wanted to be with my dad.

I loved those trips. I’m sure there were difficult days. Days when the truck wouldn’t start, days with flat tires, days where my dad or I irritated each other. But I got to spend time with my dad. I got to know him better than ever. I got to go where he was going and do what he was doing. He didn’t need my help. In fact, in some ways, I am sure his day would have been easier without me, but he let me come. My dad was going to work and I was going with him.

God invites us along

There is no doubt that God is at work in the world. We don’t always know what that work is. Nor do we have a perfect understanding of how to do the work and yet God as our perfect heavenly Father invites us along. He will open up the passenger door and ask if you are getting in. You can pass if you want. He won’t force you to spend time with Him. But if you don’t spend time with Him, you will not know Him. If you don’t go with him, you won’t do what He is doing.

There will be days where being with God is going to cost you. You’ll lose sleep. You will be uncomfortable. There will be days you don’t even know where you are going. There will be days where there seems to be no earthly reason to continue on. Is the presence of God enough to keep you going? If you know Him as the Father He truly is, His presence alone is enough. The presence and closeness of God is what we should treasure most.

The Presence of God is the Point

In Exodus 33 the Israelites are in the wilderness after God has delivered them from Egypt. They are a sinful and rebellious nation. In the previous chapter, they had created a golden calf as their preferred god to worship. Needless to say, they were not being ideal children. God tells them to go into the promised land full of great blessings, comfort, and riches. He even says that He will send His Angel before them to drive out their enemies. He guarantees the Israelite’s earthly desires. But then says that He is not going to go.

Moses replies saying, “If your presence is not going to go with us, please don’t make us go.” He knew that to enter into a land full of blessings and riches but without the presence of God is far worse than staying put in the harsh wilderness with God at their side. He knew that it is better to be anywhere with God than in paradise without Him.

Will You go With

Getting in the passenger seat with my Dad was a little intimidating. I had no idea what was in store or where we would end up. I didn’t know how long we would be gone. But I did it and never regretted it. The same is true of going to work with God. It’s more than a little intimidating, it’s terrifying. You never know where He might take you or what He might expect you to do along the way. Do you want to be with your Father? If you’ll go, you will find He will take you on the ride of your life.