first published Thursday, July 19, 2007
The 20th century prophetic voice of A.W. Tozer once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." Do you have the courage to consider that question? It takes courage to do so because our answers will reveal a lot about ourselves. It may reveal that we have no conception of God at all. Worse, it may reveal that we don't care. Perhaps even worse still, it may expose our focus upon our own selfish souls.
Don't be afraid to try - God already knows us intimately - the question is, "Do we know him?" Beware Christian! You may be saying, "This is not for me to consider, I'm already a believer." Ah, but that is not the point - it is a sad and tragic truth that not many of his children know the Father very well. If we did we would not be living such ineffective and unproductive lives for Him.
We need a new proclamation of the importance of striving after God - desiring to know Him better and better and not being satisfied until we have experienced Him intimately and powerfully, again and again and again. All of the great men and women of God were never satisfied with where they were in their following of Christ -- but today, we are satisfied with simply playing games, practicing empty rituals, and pondering only that which is of the earth.
Stop looking inward! Stop looking around! Look up Christian! Have the eyes of faith and the heart of conviction needed to see through the clouds of doubt and unbelief and past the obstacles of stony indifference and perhaps you will see, for the first time, that which is truly awe-inspiring. He alone is worthy of that kind of attention and focus -- after all, it takes hard work to see the invisible!
What comes into your mind when you think about God? Is it the burden of sin and the obligation to turn to God in saving faith that presses upon every honest soul? Don't fear! Unless the weight of the burden is crushing and felt and understood to be impossible to cast off in our own power, the good news of Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross on our behalf will mean nothing."Until we see a vision of God high and lifted up, there will be no woe and no burden." One will not even feel the weight of all of the vast sins one is under!
The church is failing to do her job as a champion and proclaimer of such truths. How do I know? Not by looking at the opposition to Christ and His message from those without - that is to be expected - it's from seeing no fear of God from within that tells me all I need to know. As the prophet gives his final clarion call, I only ask, "Christian, are you listening?" " The heaviest obligation upon the church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him. In all her prayers, this should have first place." Amen.
Don't be afraid to try - God already knows us intimately - the question is, "Do we know him?" Beware Christian! You may be saying, "This is not for me to consider, I'm already a believer." Ah, but that is not the point - it is a sad and tragic truth that not many of his children know the Father very well. If we did we would not be living such ineffective and unproductive lives for Him.
We need a new proclamation of the importance of striving after God - desiring to know Him better and better and not being satisfied until we have experienced Him intimately and powerfully, again and again and again. All of the great men and women of God were never satisfied with where they were in their following of Christ -- but today, we are satisfied with simply playing games, practicing empty rituals, and pondering only that which is of the earth.
Stop looking inward! Stop looking around! Look up Christian! Have the eyes of faith and the heart of conviction needed to see through the clouds of doubt and unbelief and past the obstacles of stony indifference and perhaps you will see, for the first time, that which is truly awe-inspiring. He alone is worthy of that kind of attention and focus -- after all, it takes hard work to see the invisible!
What comes into your mind when you think about God? Is it the burden of sin and the obligation to turn to God in saving faith that presses upon every honest soul? Don't fear! Unless the weight of the burden is crushing and felt and understood to be impossible to cast off in our own power, the good news of Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross on our behalf will mean nothing."Until we see a vision of God high and lifted up, there will be no woe and no burden." One will not even feel the weight of all of the vast sins one is under!
The church is failing to do her job as a champion and proclaimer of such truths. How do I know? Not by looking at the opposition to Christ and His message from those without - that is to be expected - it's from seeing no fear of God from within that tells me all I need to know. As the prophet gives his final clarion call, I only ask, "Christian, are you listening?" " The heaviest obligation upon the church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him. In all her prayers, this should have first place." Amen.
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