The theme of the Bible is one that shows a constant tug of Man's souls towards God, and time and again being drawn away, and then back to God once again. From Adam and Eve, to the Hebrew people being led out of Egypt, to individuals like David and Solomon, such is story of Man and God retold. A story that never ceases. Each time Israel left God in pursuit of other things, but God always seeks them. Each time individuals like David commit sins, as He repents, God shows him the way.
Today, this story too plays in lives of individuals like a broken movie strip. God simply wants us to know Him as described in John 17:3 about Eternal Life: "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
The picture above presents a very real situation in our lives: "You can know about God, and still not know God."
Confused perhaps? Let us explore one scenario:
"Max falls in love with a girl named Emily. He finds out about her from her facebook, looks out for the things she do and observe her everyday schedule, noting down important facts pertaining to what she likes and what she doesn't. He does this for a while in genuine hope of knowing her and developing a close relationship with her. But, he never plucked up the courage to speak to her or approach her."
Max probably never knew Emily personally despite knowing and grasping facts about Emily. This is simply down to the fact that knowing facts about someone doesn't necessarily mean you know the person personally.
The same can be of our relationship with God. The Bible reveals all sorts of characteristics and descriptions of God: God is Love, Holy, Faithful, Consuming Fire, Merciful just to name a few. We can be people well versed in the Bible, who have read the Bible from cover to cover. But we can just know all these in the head without ever experiencing who God is in our lives.
Knowing God essentially is a two-fold matter: Knowing the truths and attributes of God revealed and the experience or encountering of God working in our lives. Both are equally important as one another and either way makes a believer lop-sided. We need not despair or be disillusioned if life as a Christian has been frustratingly difficult and fruitless. God is the initiator of the Love stories in the Bible. He is always waiting for us to open the doors of our hearts. (Rev 3:20).
Perhaps some people will ask: How then, can I experience God in my life? To this, I have no definite answer but I do know God speaks and appeal to us at our own levels and through the things in our life. Our first and foremost is to know Him. (Deut 6:5) and secondly is to Love our Neighbour as ourselves.(Matt 22:36-40). One way to know God is through observing His presence in our everyday lives, His work in our lives and secondly is through the people He places in our lives. We can definitely find traces of Him at work in circumstances, when we see Love, forgiveness, mercy in people who are redeemed.
The Bible too, can come alive in instances: like the Good Samaritan and the recent little 2 year old Girl ran over in China where no one helped even when 18 bystanders passed by. They can be very real.
I just like to leave us with a promise from Jesus, May you too, find the one who seeks you as you seek Him too:
Matthew 7:7-12
New International Version (NIV)
2 Responses to "Hello, God?"
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
As for this scripture verse, could we really take that promise to ourselves?
Eg: We ask for healing for a friend who is in cancer (just an example and not necessarily true), but in the end, the friend died.
So, does it mean that if the prayer is not answered, it would mean that God actually thinks that the friend dying is according to His will and for a greater purpose?
Cause currently a bit skeptical to apply that scripture verse..
and I do agree with ur title that knowing about God doesn't mean we actually know Him. (sometimes don't know whether I actually do that or not. Sigh)
Hey lawrence, I'd just like to quote from Luke 18 about the persistent widow. feel free to call me anytime haha to chat =)
Many a times when we pray, we do not get what we want because we ought to recognise a few things:
1) God is not a Genie but our Lord and saviour: having said this, He will possibly not grant things that harm others, or things for our own satisfaction and fulfillment. But he wants us to think in a relationship way, where a Father knows what his kid wants. But He often gives what the child Needs instead of what we want.
2) The prayer rests on a biblical principle and that is our relationship with God. Often it is only natural we pray for our own needs, but As God expands our vision and heart for others, we will find ourselves praying more for others. You are right to say if we pray in accordance to His kingdom, we can be sure it be answered.
3) We can't understand why sickness, disasters seemingly seem to strike those who don't deserve it. We have a sense of justice that demands actions being done, and immediately. I have no answer really to this and it opens a can full of other questions like "what happens to those who never heard of God/dead before born?"
Perhaps we could look at the story of Lazarus and the Rich man (Luke 16:19-31). Lazarus was a man faithful to God. Lazarus the name meant "God is my help". Yet, he lived a poor life, scorned at and in illness (people associate illness with sin in the old days) He even died later on. On the human level, we possibly see this as unjust. It seems God's Will is cruel, and unjustified on certain people we feel ought to deserve better.
But God actually cares as much as those we care. It just seems that disaster and illness are rather random and strikes the believer and non-believer alike. I'm not trying to say if this "fantasy friend" died, it's a good thing. But it just reflects the fragility of life, that we cannot do anything about. But we do know God has already conquered death.
Healing is in the Bible and it may/may not occur. But we just know it isn't the norm happening, if not hospitals and medical studies would collapse and we see faith healers going into hospitals. God uses doctors too.
It's always not late to find God, He is well =) always there.
Ending with another verse about persistent prayer, God does and says He does hear our cries:
Luke 18
The Story of the Persistent Widow
1-3Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are being violated. Protect me!'
4-5"He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, 'I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I'm going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.'"
6-8Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"
Post a Comment