Thursday, 14 April 2022
“After these things the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your Exceedingly Great Reward.”
Genesis 15:1 NKJV
I have always been fascinated by people’s stories and their encounters with GOD and the supernatural, and even more so by NDEs (near-death experiences). The knowledge and understanding people come back with once they have faced death and life on the other side. The one similar response most people have, including testimonies of deathbed conversions, is how much we complicate life and waste time by seeking meaningless things instead of getting to know our Creator. We become so consumed with the blessings and completely disregard the greatness of the One who is the blesser and the blessing all in one. Abraham had the privilege of not only GOD telling him that He was his reward, but he got to see it physically and to live it. That very same blessing went on to generations after him. That is how deep the love and the friendship he had with GOD ran.
When we stop and think of what makes some of our greatest relationships fulfilling, it’s not necessarily about what the people have given us or what they did and did not do. But rather our experiences with them. How well we know and love them and the quality of time we have with them. Everything else becomes an add-on. So it then makes sense why Jesus in the Bible would say “Many will say to Me in that Day, ‘LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:22-23 NKJV.
Often times we assume that we know what pleases GOD and what we can do to “buy” our way into His grace and blessings. We think that we are doing Him favors when we serve Him and we measure our success and proximity to Him by how much He gives or does for us in return. Yet, Jesus Christ, Himself says that all these things do not matter if we do not know Him. Knowing of Him and actually having a relationship with Him are two very different experiences. The former cannot sustain your Christian walk and in fact, it’s the reason why many fall away from the faith. They feel a great disappointment when they don’t get what they want considering how much they “gave” trying to please GOD. The latter on the other hand is what makes all this worth it.
It is a relationship with GOD that gives us the internal fire we need to keep going. It is what helps us understand the things we go through and why, and brings a deep knowing that He will never leave us nor forsake us. GOD is not a distant being somewhere in the sky demanding sacrifices instead of our hearts. The Prophet once said, “you can spend years achieving and doing all sorts of great things, but if they are not what GOD has called you to do, you have wasted your entire life”. That statement woke me up to the realization that if we do not seek GOD, we will continue to assume things and constantly miss the point of our purpose on this earth, right along with the blessings we are seeking.
It is possible to exist outside of the will of GOD. But it is impossible to exist outside of GOD Himself because He is everywhere and in everything including the air that we breathe. Why then do so many believe that they can find fulfilment in everything other than HIM? We do not own anything and cannot take anything with us. So whatever we are seeking, it best have GOD at its foundation and fulfilment. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” Psalms 139:7-8 NKJV.
We do not own anything and cannot take anything with us. So whatever we are seeking, it best have GOD at its foundation and fulfilment
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