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| It is difficult for us with our finite capacities to coherently understand an infinite God. So when evangelical Christians speak of having a personal relationship with God through Jesus, who died some 2000 years ago, it moves from what seems to be difficult to what appears to be absurd. Does such a claim push the boundaries of arrogance (“I have a personal relationship with God”)? Where does this come from and what does it really mean? The idea of having a close and meaningful relationship with God comes from several places in the New and Old Testaments but I will focus on just one. Jesus not only claimed to be God’s divine Son but he also enabled all who believe in him to become children of God (John 1:1-18). He spoke of his intimacy with God as his Father, and called on his followers to participate in that close relationship (John 14:10-11, 18-23; 17:20-26 among others). The invitation into a father/child relationship with God is pregnant with implications. The father/child relationship is a very complex one. It is personal and intimate while also conveying authority and accountability. It is not a peer relationship of equals! The love of a father is filled with warmth and affection but is also displayed in protection and discipline. A father’s love is expressed both by bestowing lavish gifts and by demanding righteous standards. The very nature of a father/child relationship is a complicated intimacy. Pursuing this relationship with our creator is further confused by the fact that we cannot readily see, feel, or hear God in a physical sense. While the spiritual dimension of life is no less real than the physical dimension, we are physical beings. In addition, our flaws and self-centeredness hinder our pursuit of God. The result is that intimacy with God is difficult, and frustration and longing for more is a natural result. We are not yet fully who we will be and our capacity to experience our personal relationship with God will only be fully realized in the future (1 John 3:3). While we are currently limited in our ability to know God, he is not limited in his ability or desire to know us. That is both comforting and frightening. It is comforting because we long to be perfectly understood and loved by someone who cares enough to pursue us and can discern both the outer and inner realities of our being. It is frightening because this also means that all that we are is fully exposed (nothing escapes him!). We are used to managing other people’s perceptions of us, but God sees us as we really are. Therefore, the offer of a personal relationship with God means that he is not aloof but rather is closely involved in our lives. He is paying attention and knows the details of our lives and hears our prayers and cares about us individually as well as corporately. To become a child of God (by receiving Jesus, see John 1:12) is to enter into a love relationship with God. It means he cares for us and protects us and wants us. It means we are secure in his faithfulness. It also means that he makes it his business to discipline us and train us in the ways of righteousness, goodness, mercy, and love. And it means that it is always in our best interest to comply with our heavenly Father’s wishes. After all, this father, unlike our earthly fathers, is perfect and his directions for us are perfect as well. Too many people seem to want a relationship with God on their own terms without accountability. Others, sadly, feel the weight of his accountability without the richness of experiencing his love and grace. How astonishing that the infinite God who created us wants to have a personal relationship with us. Let’s not trivialize it through cavalier attitudes but rather let’s honor the One that so honors us by receiving his gracious offer and living our life as his child. |
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by Dr. J. Patrick Curtis, Senior Pastor |
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