1 Chronicles 13:7-10 – “They transported the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart, ⁸ while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before God, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. ⁹ When they arrived at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to take hold of the ark, because the oxen stumbled. ¹⁰ The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him, because he reached out his hand and touched the ark. He died right there before God.”

I am fascinated by the account in 1 Chronicles 13-15.  They were attempting to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.  The Ark symbolizes God’s presence, person, and power.   David longed to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.   We long for God’s presence, person, and power to be evidenced in our midst (churches and lives).

A perplexing account troubled me until I saw a reality.  They began moving the Ark on a “new cart.”   We try new methods to obtain God’s presence.  They had all the visible external investments—music, exuberance, and participation.  Then the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah touched the Ark. (Human effort).  God struck him down.  David was angry and fearful.

As we see in 1 Chronicles 15, he realized that they had tried to bring the Ark back through human efforts, resulting in death.   They had not correctly honored God’s way!   They tried using new methods (new carts and oxen), but God’s way was on the shoulders of the Levites.

We cannot shortcut God’s way!  The way into God’s presence was slower (Levites carrying the Ark) than man’s modern method (new cart and oxen).  It required personal consecration and investment.

There is nothing wrong with utilizing modern technology and new methods.  Still, if we try to press into the presence of God without consecration and personal investment, we may move too quickly, and rather than being transformed in the process, we develop a superficial facade that looks like the genuine but does not transform.

Daily, personal consecration and investment in pursuing God’s presence will transform us.  There is no shortcut!

God inhabits the praises of His people.   There is no instant, effortless access to the presence of God.  Our passion for Him must be allowed to burn out the dross so that He has pure hearts to deposit His presence, person, and power.

God wants His Ark to occupy our hearts.   Trying to have God’s presence through human efforts is dangerous and can be deadly.  The pure in heart will see God.  Don’t gloss over the dross and suffer loss.   The pure will endure and live securely!

It’s time to bring the Ark of God’s presence back into our lives!  That requires total surrender!

May we never attempt to take a shortcut into God’s presence and purposes!