I sat at my computer one Saturday afternoon thinking of so many things. Some things about my sermon the next day. I actually prayed that it would be presented well and clearly, that God would reign as the host and subject of His own worship, and that His children would come prepared to present themselves in a way that glorifies Him and by His grace purify every faithful member. I often find myself there at that time. I don’t seek anyone’s favor, or commendation for sharing this. I do this for the same reason Paul proclaimed his necessity to preach. (1 Corinthians 9:16)
As sometimes happens, I was moved by the most rudimentary understanding that God knows me in the quietest and most obscure moment. I am stopped on my journey in knowing that He hears me in my most humble prayer. I can be heard by the creator of the universe and so can you! I was triggered by a portion of a song which was sung by a popular Christian group. The song is “The Love of God.” Many artists sing this song. However, God is the true author. I would hope every Christian would know this song. Maybe you don’t know the exact lyrics to this version, but I sure hope you know the lyrics to “your” version.
For believers this is a song which should be sung loudly and humbly. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. (John 3:16-21 – NASB)
Sometimes, in life, we are left in the quietest moments to ponder exactly where we are and even more importantly where God is. I would submit to you today that God is here and with us all. We can understand His existence if we will just take our quiet moments and talk to Him. If we can look at those things created around us and put away our factually inaccurate and prideful intellect we can then begin to acknowledge Him. If you are already a Christian, then you should already be singing your song. If you are not then why not. God is patiently waiting. If you desire that relationship then please look to Scripture and understand the process by which it prescribes our entrance into that great kingdom and the most holy relationship. We need to hear the Word of God. This is where faith originates. (Romans 10:17) We need to be true believers, not the superficial individuals who walk the earth claiming a relationship they have never had. Judging God or demanding of God is blasphemous at the least. We need to believe to the point of heart break and true submission. (John 3:16; James 2:19) Repentance should be a logical requirement having realized how badly we have wronged God. (Matthew 4:17, 21:32; Luke 17:3, 24:46-48; Isaiah 30:15) Confession is unavoidable at this point. We must be willing to relay the truth of man’s existence that we have all sinned and that Jesus Christ is the answer. (Romans 3:23; Hebrews 3:1, 4:14) The door to this purified life is found in the waters of baptism. It is here that man is cleansed from his sin. It is here that the holiness God seeks from His people begins to be achievable. (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21) Finally living out the faith is what all Christians are left with until the day we stand before our Lord. (James 1:11-12; Revelation 2:8-11)
We can have a close and growing relationship with God. He begins that process by loving us. I will give you this humble illustration as it was presented a recent video:
This was inscribed on the bedroom wall of an insane asylum’s resident:
“Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky
O love of God how Rich and Pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure –
The Saint’s and Angel’s song.”
It was discovered when the man’s body, who lived in that room, was taken out and buried. In a moment of clarity
he wrote these words based on Jewish Rabbi Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai’s 11th century poem – “Haddamut.”