It’s Personal
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 NKJV
This BriefWord has been brewing away in my heart and spirit for a while. It’s an attempt to put into words, one of my absolute passions, and something I believe is important for this hour.
The coronavirus pandemic around the world is far from over. Life is different now from just a short time ago, and more changes will be thrust upon us as we try to adjust to a new normal. Social life, church life, and economic life have all changed, and we’re being told we must do our part.
Crisis’ and change may take things from us. One thing remains though that cannot be taken from us. And that is, our relationship with the Lord. No matter what highs and lows we experience, we will always have the Lord with us and in us. We’ll always have our relationship with the Lord.
I have tripped over this theme time and again in my Bible readings recently. Here’s a sample I came across to wet your appetite.
Job.
Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, And this is the place of him who does not know God.” Job 18:21 NKJV.
The writer, Bildad the Shuhite, uses a phrase usually associated with modern Christianity. Know God. He’s saying the wicked do not know God, inferring that the righteous do. Even in those ancient times, the concept of knowing God, was in their minds.
Isaiah.
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. Isaiah 43:10 NKJV.
Here’s God’s declarations of who we are:
- “You are My witnesses,” says the LORD,
- “And My servant
- whom I have chosen
The purposes of the declarations:
- That you may know
- and believe Me,
- And understand that I am He
Jeremiah.
Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:7 NKJV.
God, through the prophet Jeremiah, was speaking to the Jews in Jerusalem who were obedient and left the city. If we too are obedient God gives us a heart to know Him. This is amazing. God wants us to know Him.
Paul.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain (arrive at) to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11 NKJV.
Paul’s passion was to know Him. That he might gain Christ and be found in Him. Paul was white-hot passionate about the Gospel, the churches and his call as an Apostle. But an even greater desire was in his heart – to know Christ!
Jesus.
25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:25 NKJV.
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 NKJV.
Jesus came to give us eternal life – yes! But He also came to bring us to the Father. Jesus is the way, the Father is the destination. A relationship with God the Father is the major reason Jesus came to the Cross.
We all have many desires, but maybe our greatest should be this; To know God and enjoy Him forever. These seven words have become my personal vision statement. They express the core of my heart but I believe it is what the Lord wants for all of us.
At this time when all around the world we’re facing the COVID-19 crisis, we’re being told regularly to “keep in contact, and stay connected”. Because relationships are powerful and vital to personal survival in tough times.
So to face everything that might be against us, to be at peace and not living in fear, to survive and thrive in these times, to hear God’s Word on the issues, the best thing we can do is to “keep in contact, and stay connected” to the Lord.
This is what we are designed for! This is our purpose!
Selwyn Hughes said, “No situation person or thing can fill the void that God has reserved for Himself”.
How do we establish and build and strengthen our relationship with God? It’s pretty much the same as any human relationship. Time is the big one. And quantity time always leads to quality time. But find what works for you.
We can know God! We can be in relationship with Him. We can be forgiven and free, equipped and qualified to be right there in His presence; that’s what Christ has done for us. It’s the place of maximum security. It’s the place of peace. It’s the place of communion, relationship, conversations, creativity and revelation. It’s the place from which the daily strength we need for life, the answers to problems, the comfort for broken hearts, and the best ideas come from.
Maybe one of God’s desires for us at this crazy time, is to experience a reset! A connection and friendship with God that is improved, re-established, regenerated, renewed, reorganised, revised, revolutionised, and reworked!
Friends “hang out” together. Friends trust each other. Friends share things together no one else knows about.
My friend, God loves you! And He yearns to commune with you, to have you in His presence, to be your friend, to speak to you through His Word; He just wants to love on you!
You and I can know God! Personally. Intimately. In a regular real way. We can!
So, how’s your relationship with the Lord going? Have a think about that for a moment.
