I ask this question because of God's words to me on the first few days of my "Secret Place Journey" which started on July 2, 2004. When God brought me into that first face-t0-face encounter with Him, He promised me that the day would come when I would live in uninterrupted awareness of His presence. The following is one of those promises and is from my journal entry on July 3, 2004.
Can we, can I, Abba, hope to have a relationship with you like Moses—“face to face”? Surely the answer is “yes,” and for all believers, not just a few. 2 Corinthians 3:7ff seems to indicate that we all can have “unveiled, face-to-face” intimacy with you because of the new covenant and by your Spirit.
Oh, Abba, what have we been missing?!! We have feared subjectivity and error so much that we have cut out the heart of what Jesus died to give us: true face-to-face, communication-filled intimacy with you!
The implications of this are huge! We have inadvertently—with good intentions—cut out the heart of the good news. No wonder your people are burdened and powerless. No wonder they resort to legalism. They think that they are alone! For most of us, walking in the Spirit means filling our minds with Scripture and then hoping that we will guess what you are saying.
We need not fear deception or imbalance if we keep our balance via Word and Spirit! The Word isn’t a substitute for Your Spirit or vice versa; the Word informs and gives clarity and depth to your speaking voice.
Are you doing this in me because You are up to something, Lord, or is this how it should always be?
God's reply: “Both! This is how I want all my children to walk, but my people have so lost this that I have to restore it before I can bring my next great move on the earth. I am calling you and many others to experience this and then lead others to the same place. I am raising up an army of those who know me so intimately that I can guide them with my eye.”
But was I being deceived? Is such a life of "constant intimacy" possible? There have been times since July 2, 2004, when I have wondered myself about that. Am I there yet? Not yet, but I know that others have made this journey before me. And I want to leave you with some encouragement from a married couple who both found this life, Andrew and Emma Murray.
Excerpt from Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray
"There are some people who seem to think that God, by some unintelligible sovereignty, withdraws His face. But I know that God loves His people too much to withhold His fellowship from them for any such reason. The true reason of the absence of God from us is rather to be found in our sin and unbelief, than in any supposed sovereignty of His. If the child of God is walking in faith and obedience, the Divine presence will be enjoyed in unbroken continuity."
"There is a step higher than just looking forward to Heaven. We may have our life so in Christ that even here below we may enjoy peace and happiness in Him which no earthly events can shake or destroy. And it is not by despising or trampling upon earthly things, but living above them, willing and loving to live for His glory and the good of others, and counting it all joy even in tribulation for His sake.
"God means us to know and experience that perfect peace and quiet of mind under all circumstances is possible. Nothing interferes more with work or renders it more difficult than fretting or worrying. In such a state of mind we can do nothing well. We must in a childlike way acknowledge God's will in everything with His peace in our hearts and a truly humble walk with God, bowing to his will....
"All this is attainable through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God, through receiving Christ as our Sanctification as well as our Justification. It is through an entire, unconditional surrender of ourselves to Him and an entire cessation from our own efforts and works, while waiting for the suggestions and influences of the Holy Spirit. And through believing in His indwelling and expecting His guidance even in the minutest concerns of our daily life."
3 comments:
Tom, I know the feeling. I feel like we are just at the beginning of this journey. I have had that healthy frustration with the shallow spirituality of the past. As I get discouraged and famished for more of the Father, He keeps encouraging me to keep at it. What is difficult I think, is that we are at the beginning of a bell curve of change. We all know of a handful of people in the same boat, but they are spread out and it is hard to connect and gather for encouragement. It's like things have not yet reached critical mass. God has such a long term approach to things. I have realized in the last few years how my own father struggled with this dissatisfaction and fought at loneliness because not many were there yet. I believe I am also laying down the foundations for my own children to expect more, and to seek God, not merely church. I am hopeful that the next 20 years are going to prove that the bell curve is on the up swing for a fresh renewal of God on His people. But there is so much letting go and discover to happen yet ... Let's not lose heart, but keep pressing in ...
I have not read this particular book, but i've been hearing a lot about it. It is called Letters by a Modern Mystic. From what I understand, he was a missionary in the philippine islands and made an attempt of being conscious of God, literally, all the time. The people who have read it, and shared parts of it, have really been impacted by this particualar book. Have you heard of it?
Scott in Las Vegas
Thanks, Alex, for your thoughtful and thought-provoking comments. The journey is indeed too close to the start to really know how it will turn out, but I can't go back and I know many others who would say the same.
Scott, I have not read Frank Laubach's book, but I gather that it is in the spirit of Brother Lawrence and I will be glad to check it out. Thanks for mentioning it!
Tom
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