Photo by Christian Buehner on Unsplash
Have you ever noticed how certain events in your life change your entire perspective about life?
For example, asking Jesus into your heart (at least initially) changes how you view the people in your life, or a near-death experience changes how you see life.
I was about 20 years old when I committed to surrender my will to the Lord’s will. I have walked with God my entire life (in case you missed the previous post), so I am not talking about a salvation experience but rather a life-altering encounter with the living God.
I have always been driven (maybe part of it is being a first-born male), and my commitment to surrender was no less demanding (self-imposed).
It was a commitment I maintained for 30 years and has had its advantages, but it wasn’t a requirement of my surrender.
However, life changes things, and although my commitment has never wavered, my drive has shifted into a slower gear.
I mentioned the Old Testament story of Enoch and how he walked with God for 300 years. He took the “slower-gear” approach to a Close Personal Relationship.
A brief rabbit trail
On our 25th anniversary adventure to the U.K., we intended to immerse ourselves in the local culture as much as possible. To do this, we ate in local pubs because that is where locals eat.
We noticed that people gathered there to socialize, not drink. They would get a pint (a glass of beer), order food, and talk about 101 things for hours. Some places had their children there with coloring books and crayons.
It was a slower pace, and (as an American) it caught my attention.
As a pastor, I had a saying: God loves you like you are but loves you too much to let you stay as you are.
I still believe that, but as a driven person, I thought the quicker you change, the sooner you become like Jesus (and there is some truth to that).
However, my slower-gear mindset and my U.K. pub experiences helped me see that the journey is equally important as the destination.
In a post-modern world, we live in a time of unprecedented evil.
Both the Apostles Paul and Peter speak about it.
The Apostle Paul said:
“Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead.
As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical,
treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God.
They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.”
II Timothy 3:1-5 The Message
The Apostle Peter said:
“First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, they’ll mock, “So what’s happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything’s going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing’s changed.”
II Peter 3:3-4 The Message
I point this out to say commitment is essential, and a Close Personal Relationship with Jesus is vital to the spiritual health of a Christ-follower.
Jesus speaks about the time we live in.
“If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God’s chosen people, the trouble will be cut short.
If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it.
Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. ”
Matthew 24:22-24 The Message
Without a Close Personal Relationship with Jesus, you could have the wool pulled over your eyes by the highly polished performances of those who use the Word of God for personal gain and greedy profit.
The Psalmist Daivd tells us:
“Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God – soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me.
Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God’s prayer.
Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, “Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?”
They’re out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities, Taunting day after day, “Where is this God of yours?”
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God – soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.”
Psalms 42:5-11 The Message
Why You Must Have a Close Personal Relationship with Jesus
* Because He is your God
* Because He promises to Love you all the time
- Because the enemies’ attacks will fall short when you trust in Him
A close personal relationship with the Godhead provides you a living hope. It is a living anticipation full of expectation of something good happening.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.
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