What is the most important thing in your life?
What is the thing that would cause you the most pain if you lost it?
I suspect that it isn’t a thing at all.
It is probably a relationship…….your spouse, child, parent, “significant other”.
Considering the list of necessities: food, shelter, clothing, it is amazing that a relationship would be what you prize the most. Yet, if we each look deep inside, that is likely the truth.
Would you rather go hungry, or lose your spouse?
Would you rather be homeless, or lose your child?
Would you rather wear used and donated clothing or lose your parent?
How can this be?
Darwin must be rolling over in his grave.
I believe that the most important truths in our lives are “written on our heart”. They are hard wired into our being. They were put there………by our creator.
Furthermore, I believe that these “most important” truths are a direct reflection of the heart of God………because we were made in his image.
The amazing truth is………that we instinctively know God’s heart.
The love of a parent for his/her child.
The understanding of right and wrong.
Joy
Justice
Mercy
Love
Generosity
Unfortunately, we have also learned some bad things along the way. This calls for some discernment. But it really isn’t too hard to sort out the good and the evil sides of our nature. It really isn’t too hard to spot “the dark side of the force”. This evil does not come from God.
So……if relationship is so important to us…….if the need for it is written on our hearts……….if that need is a reflection of the heart of God……..then relationship must be important to God.
Then relationship with you……. individually…….. must be important to God…….so important that he would suffer crucifixion in order to salvage it.
In a word, God wants relationship. He wants to be close to you…….. closer than any human relationship you have ever experienced. That is the purpose of creation……your personal creation.
God created you for one reason only………to be his friend.
GOD CREATED YOU……..TO BE HIS FRIEND.
You were created to love God and to be loved by him…….and then to love your fellow man. If you feel that your life lacks purpose, then you need to revisit this fundamental truth……..because your only true purpose is to love and be loved by God. The rest is just window dressing.
Paradise is the fulfillment of that love, that friendship. Hell is the total absence of that friendship.
God has three faces: father, son, and spirit. Father and spirit and hard to get a grip on. So when I am struggling, I focus on the Son…….Jesus. I focus on his desire for relationship…….with me personally. I focus on his love for me………..and I try to be worthy of it.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
James, NIV
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
Jesus, NIV