The Relationship

[caption id="attachment_902" align="alignright" width="300"] Connect. For the love of God, connect.[/caption]

There is a person I know whom God has put on my heart, an unbeliever so far from Christ it seems impossible she could be saved.

But all things are possible for Him.

This person speaks out often against religion and is committed to atheism. I've been praying and waiting for the right moment to speak, for speaking at the wrong moment can spell disaster.

Recently, this person said something and the Spirit said, "Speak. Speak now."

The person said, "Religion is destroying the world. People are ruined by it and they don't need it or any other silly superstitions."

I said, "So you have no beliefs at all beyond the natural? For you it's just survival of the fittest? Your immediate needs and that's it?"

"No," the person replied, "I do believe in karma, that people end up getting what they deserve."

"So? That's a religion. There's no "god" or whatever, but you believe in something more. Something beyond the natural, because science says that's bunk. There's just what's in front of you."

"Well, I'd call it a belief system. It's not a religion." the person explained.

"Oh, then we may have different definitions of religion then. Sounds like your definition is like rules and rituals and so forth." I said.

"That's right." the person clarified.

"In that case I'm not religious either and I agree with you as well. What I am a part of is about a relationship. I believe there is a Being who transcends everything and Who created everything. I believe the most important thing in a person's life is to have a relationship with this Person."

"Oh," the person said, "Well that's different, that's good then."

For all the miles this person has to go before they are even close to responding to the Gospel, we moved an inch today. But I praise God, because due to our human nature, that person shouldn't have moved at all.

But that's not why I am posting this. I am posting this because as I drove home something hit me.

I am religious. I observe rules and rituals. I have not been pursuing God as a relationship.

A fire that had long lay dormant within me kindled, and I began to weep. I pray every day, but how long had it been since I was so enraptured with His presence that I had to be torn away from it? I read the Bible almost every day, but how long had it been since I opened my Bible with eagerness the way a wife embraces her husband after he has been on a long journey?

Too long.

Takeaways:

1. Engage the Lost. You will learn as much from bouncing what you believe off them as anything else. We Christians are far too good at patting each other on the back.
2. Forget your problems. God actually commands this of us. We should focus on our relationship with Him. All good works will flow from that relationship. We don't do good to know God, we do good because we know Him.
3. Check your affections. How much affection do you have for Christ? This is something we should check on a daily basis as we should with our spouses.
4. Relationships are of highest importance. God first, and others second, but for the love of our Lord, connect. I feel like I've kept everyone, including God, at a distance. Do not do this. God is all about relationships. That is what matters.

Not Safe, but Good

I grow tired of people who believe in a milksop God and a milksop Jesus. God is dynamic and powerful and dangerous and loving and deadly and mysterious and violent and playful and serious and funny (yes, funny).

God reveals Himself to us in His Word. He pulls no punches. The Bible is R-rated. He makes people alive, and He kills people. He raises up nations and leaders and champions, and He tears down civilizations and drives leaders to madness and allows champions to fall into ruin.

Along the way God makes no apologies for His actions and makes few explanations. He demands obedience and unyielding fealty to His name.

For this reason, many doubt His claim to love us and His goodness. Perhaps there would be cause for this if not for this:

"For a good man someone might dare to die. But while we were yet sinners, He died for us."

This immeasurably powerful, all knowing, all consuming God who demands perfection, does not tolerate uncleanness and hates sin with a perfect hatred. This God put aside His rights and came to live among us in the flesh. He provided the perfect life Himself that we failed to provide. He died the death He declared we should die for us.

"So in this way God loved the world. He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

And He defines just what that is.

"This is eternal life. That they know you intimately, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

He wants us. He wants us to be with Him such that He died to bring us close to Him. There can be no greater love, indeed He says:

"Mortal man knows no greater love than this. That he lay down his life for his friends."

He calls me friend. I am God's friend. So when my God does something I do not understand, even when He takes life or chooses to allow life to pass away from someone. Even if He slays me, still will I trust in Him.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” - The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe