Would you say that you have a passion for knowing God? Is he the first thing that comes into your mind when you awaken? Are the first words off of your lips, words of praise to him? These are not trick questions, nor are they meant to throw quilt on anyone. The fact is—in America—people are struggling with believing in God much less talking to him.
Around the turn of the 20-century, there was a reverence for God. By the mid-point of the 1950s, there was a respect for God, while the close of the century found that a majority of people believe in a God. The 21-century has seen the cloak of religion thrown off, and the embracing of darker things as good.
So, talking to or thinking about God is, one, becoming a lost art, and two scoffed at as maniaphobia—fear of insanity. The Bible speaks about this rising darkness as the end of time as humanity understands time. Jesus even states that people will spring up with wild claims and special abilities to perform amazing things, so amazing in fact, that they will attempt to deceive the very sons and daughters of God.
I bring this up for two reasons. First, it is the world in which humanity lives today. Darkness rules. Common sense and human dignity have been replaced with nonsense and human depravity. Leaders lie to the face of those they said they are there to serve. Service is about what I can get for myself—no matter the cost, or the carnage. We live in this world today.
The second reason I bring this up is the fact that a close personal relationship with the godhead is paramount in combatting such darkness and oppressive leadership. The cry of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, “That I may know you Lord,” must be the cry of our heart today.
The community of Christ-followers encouraging each other must be in place in order to successfully stand in this tumultuous time. If you feel alone, ask God the Father to show you others of like passion that you can connect with.
If you feel yourself being sucked into the vortex of hopeless humanity, cry out for God the Son to show himself alive to you. If you feel like you are on the edge of falling headlong into the matrix of religion, ask God the Holy Spirit to ignite in your heart the passion to know him.
Cry out for a close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It begins with the willingness to be made willing. It continues with the willingness to follow wherever he leads. It grows as you make the commitment to follow.
Years ago, The Hobbit trilogy painted such a wonderful picture of this unexpected journey to a close personal relationship with the godhead. Bilbo sitting outside his home smoking his pipe, enjoying a simple life is interrupted by the offer of Gandalf to come on a most extraordinary journey.
As adamant as he was to say no, Bilbo’s heart was intrigued. Logic gave way to love, and fear gave way to faith as the young hobbit dashed out the door to begin the unexpected journey.