There is never a
moment when I am apart from God. He is
the very Life within me. God breathed live in the human being. God deals personally with every human being,
which is absolutely amazing when I think of how many of us there are, have
been, and are still to come. John writes
of Jesus that “He was LIFE and the LIFE was the light of men.” When I look into a child’s eyes, especially a
baby, I see that light, still as bright as if it was straight from God’s
Presence and glory. It is so clear to me
that the life of God is within them as they innocently come into this
world. The Spirit shines out onto
everything and it is sacred, as all life is.
I was born
innocent, but eventually the dust of time, circumstances, and events grows
thick and settles onto this flesh I am contained in. The Spirit is still there but gets covered
over and somehow that connection is interfered with by the things of the
world. I forgot where I came from and
wondered around trying to find something I knew I was a part of and usually
carried my search into all the wrong places.
God searches for his lost sheep and when he finds them the Spirit
without quickens the Spirit within and they make the connection once again. “To
all who did receive him, and believe in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God.” It is my personal
choice to accept this original birthright, squander it, or reject it
altogether. When I choose to accept it I
commit myself to live out the responsibilities that come with it. On Palm Sunday, 15 April 1973 I chose to
accept it. At times I squandered that
birthright just as the Prodigal son did in Jesus’ parable. Thankfully, like that son, I found my way
back, returning in repentance, and finding my Father’s open arms welcoming me
home; no condemnation, just celebration.
God will not force
himself on anyone. Paul tells what
happens when people reject their birthright, when they reject God. “God gave them up to the lust of their
hearts; God gave them up to dishonorable passions; God gave them up to a
debased mind.” God gave them up to the
life they wanted to live, doing what they wanted to do. God gave up His Son to give us life. But He will not force Himself on anyone who
chooses not to receive, believe, and accept that Life. Out of love He accepts the choice made to
live one’s own life, just as the father in the parable let his son go. But the
cost is great if one is not repentant and return to the Father. The spirit is diminished and dies. I believe this grieves God’s heart.
I know how I feel
when I look into the eyes of someone I love and care about and they say to me,
“Frankly, I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks. I am doing what I want to do; it is my path
to walk and I choose the path I want.”
It grieves my heart because in their eyes I see only darkness and a void
emptiness. The light is gone,
extinguished by their own breath.
It is God’s
business to determine the final condemnation and judgment for this refusal of
the birthright. But I know there is no
celebration in the Father’s house for any lost soul.
I, like everyone,
am God breathed; but I am far from perfect.
But I believe that God isn’t as concerned about perfection as He is
about presence. He created us to be with
Him, to dwell with Him, and commune with Him.
How can anyone choose anything else?
No comments:
Post a Comment