I want to break down a close personal relationship today. Even though it may be a simplified version of the phrase, I trust it will help you understand it in light of God.
To begin, close is in proximity to something, as opposed to being at a distance. This is very important because God is a personal God who desires intimate interaction with his creation. To be clear, intimate does not mean sexual. Intimate means a deep trusting interaction that takes place often.
Religion enforces certain protocols as a way of measuring a close relationship. They focus on “doing” instead of being. For instance, you are in a good relationship with God when you attend—do—services, help—do—with volunteer functions, and give—do—your money.
You are in a good relationship with God when you read—do—your Bible, pray—do—daily, and fast (abstain from food)—do—occasionally. Each of these things is important to a Christ-followers life, but none of them add up to a close personal relationship.
In the books of the New Testament Gospels, Jesus chides the religious leaders for “saying”—do—one thing, yet doing the opposite. In another place, the Bible says that they honor him (the Lord) with their lips, while their heart is far from him.
In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, it says that humans look for what looks good, and God probes for what is good. The ability to check off each of the above items from your daily list is an indication of “doing” what looks good. In fact, if you are more interested in checking the box, your heart is probably NOT into the activity you are attempting to check off.
Here’s the difference. You will find that each of the items listed above will be done by the one in a close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The difference is, there is no desire to check off a list, rather be close to God. In other words, where is your heart—your longing, desire, and focus—in the activity you are doing? Are you concerned with how long it will take, or that you do not have enough time to do it? The former is an act of “doing.” while the latter is an act of “being.”
“Doing” focuses on how many words you have to read, while “being” gets caught up in what a word is saying to him or her. “Doing” is concerned with how long it will take to finish the prayer, while “being” deeply cares about the thing or person being prayed for. “Doing” a volunteer activity is concerned with how much effort must be given before you leave, while “being” is focused on the compassion needed to help.
Close is an attitude of the heart. It is a desire to come closer, learn more, and dig deeper as opposed to how much time it will take, or what am I giving up to do this.
A close personal relationship is personal. Do you recall the line in the movies when someone who has just ruined another’s life says, “it wasn’t personal, it’s just business?” Using that line, “doing” is just business. But “being” is personal. In other words, your heart is in it.
Have you heard the old sports phrase, “in it to win it?” In other words, you are not trying it out, you are wholeheartedly committed, willing to do whatever it takes to win—in this case, get close to God.
This is the kicker. All of this is wrapped up in getting close to and with God—the creator of everything, and the one humanity has a right to call father.
Have you ever imagined what it was like for Adam (before Eve), and then Adam and Eve walking and talking with creator God? Can you imagine the depth of conversations they had? It is possible to have such a relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It is what I am calling a close personal relationship with the godhead.