Break Glass part 2
Here's what I think I'm trying to say in this Rant series: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). God is not a "break glass in case of emergency" last resort when we try it ourselves and inevitably screw it up. Eternal life is knowing God in the context of Him as our loving heavenly Father and us as His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. Eternal life is that relationship that comes from love. That relationship that IS love. Because love, if it's anything, is relationship. It's connection. It's unconditional acceptance. And it is literally every breath we take and every move we make. In Him--in love--we live and move and have our being. That's what eternal life is; knowing God. And not just knowing ABOUT God... but KNOWING Him. On an intimate, personal, experiential level. Knowing Him better than we know ourselves. Because when we know Him... we know ourselves! Our true identity is Jesus. God in the flesh. Love in a body. The hidden man of the heart. The new creation. That's who we are. But that identity sometimes looks like it is buried under all of the surface stuff. All of the "world" stuff. And that's where faith comes in. We walk by faith and not by sight. But walking by faith doesn't mean that we're wandering around blindly. I don't think faith is a blind leap at all. It's not a blind leap in the dark, OR the light. I believe faith is simply trusting in God. Remember yesterday we looked at Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Today I want to add Psalm 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Now watch how good this is: Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God. The Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path! The same thing that produces faith in us is the same thing that shows us the Way! Walking in faith isn't about taking a blind leap. It's about leaping into Daddy's arms and knowing (and believing) that He will catch you! And the more we do this, the more our faith grows, because the more we trust in Him the more He proves Himself trustworthy. We have faith because He has proven, and continues to prove, Himself faithful. The more we trust in Him--the more we REST in Him, instead of trying things in our own strength--the more He will direct our paths. The more natural it will be to acknowledge Him ALL the time, instead of just in times of trouble or emergency. And that's what God wants. He doesn't just want to be PART of your life. He wants to BE your life, because He IS life! He wants to be involved in every area, in every aspect. Not just on Sundays (or whenever you do church). Not just when you have your "holy face" on. But all the time. Every day in every way. He lives in you. And you live in Him. There's nowhere He's not. But when we acknowledge Him... let me say it this way: If you look for Him (in any and every situation) you'll find Him.