This month we are continuing our theme of "Spiritual Hunger - Part 3". This is an excerpt from our newest book, being currently written, entitled "The Power of Worship: Developing Intimacy with God"

Enjoy.

Eddie

Spiritual Hunger Pt 3

The young man sat across from me, eyes fixed, hands folded together. He began to speak truthfully and honestly regarding his past, his present, and his future. He focused on an unseen object, perhaps in his mind’s eye, as he struggled to come to grips with the reality he knew of, and the reality that he endured. He admitted three area's in his life that was out of control. The first area was the doorway to the second and third.

I listened as he poured his heart out. Thoughts that had been suppressed for years, literally, ate away at his very soul. Raised in a Christian community environment, attended “Christian” schools and colleges. He hadn’t struggled with the “usual” temptations often associated with government run schools, e.g. drugs, underage drinking, etc.

He knew the Bible. He knew the stories. He could quote the scriptures. He could “talk the talk”. There wasn’t anything lacking that good intention could supply. Going to “church” wasn’t a struggle of will; after all he had been raised in “church”. Old habits die hard, even when they are good habits.

Everything sounds right. Everything looks right. But something is terribly wrong. What’s worse is, the “wrong” has opened the door for the enemy to gain a serious foothold.

Now faced with a family of his own, his choices are to continue the generational cycle of religion, while living a life that is far from “walking the walk”, or, admit there is a problem, and find the solution.

After listening to all of the “pros” of his religious upbringing, the attention turns to the “cons” of reality. His heart has come to grips with the fact; “I don’t have a relationship with Jesus. I don’t know that I ever have. I don’t know intimacy in a personal way that people talk about.”

This isn’t a question of salvation. We aren’t dealing with personal opinions of heaven and hell. It isn’t a debate of “who’s saved” and “who’s lost”. We aren’t arguing doctrinal beliefs, or denominational differences. We are not talking about an artificially manufactured form of Christianity. The “do’s” and the “don’ts” of a type written code, listing what is “approved” by our tradition, against those things that are not.

This is Life itself!

John 17:3 (NKJV) declares, “And this is eternal life, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

The word, “know”, in the original language is the Greek word ginosko. It means an experiential learning process. In this case it means personal knowledge that produces, or leads to a relationship. The “mood tense” of this word speaks of possibility and potential. The action described may or may not occur depending on the circumstances. (Blue Letter Bible. Org, and Vine’s expository Dictionary)

Potentially, every child of God has the ability to personally, by experience know God. That is, have an intimate relationship with Him. It is more than knowing about Him. Knowing about God, the facts of Who He is, is totally and completely different to having a relationship with Him.

I know about Abraham Lincoln. I have read a book about him! I have watched history programs regarding him on PBS and the History Channel. I know a lot of what he did. I know some of the struggles he faced during this nations horrendous war between the states. I know he lost children while in office. I know his wife suffered from depression. I know how he died. Who killed him. Where he is buried. However, I never knew him. I never had a relationship with him. I have read his writings but I’ve never heard his voice!

This is where so many children of God are living. Knowing about Him, but having never heard His voice. Intimacy involves speaking to one another. Intimacy involves deep emotional attachment. Intimacy is heart to Heart. Intimacy is built on unconditional, unwavering love. Non-judgmental, non-condemnational love.

Is it possible that one generation can have an encounter with God that changes their lives forever, and be unable to pass it on to the next generation? It isn’t just “probable”, we have virtually succeeded. Which raises a few more questions. “How did we get to this point?” and, “How do we change it?”

to be continued...