I suspect that most of us would try to relate it by comparing it to one of the human relationships we have. There are many of them: romantic, familial, professional, spiritual, friendly. Human relatioship attributes would probably include some of the following:
- it changes
- it is both experiential and empirical (observable)
- it is often difficult to define
- it can become dormant
- it is not predictable; while sometimes very predictable
Are these true of our relationship with God? I would say yes. Are they true of His relationship with us? I think not.
I was thinking the other day that our relationship with God can end up being like our one with President Obama. We don't see him personally face-to-face, ever. He doesn't come over for dinner or hang out with us in any of our day to day activities. But we do know an awful lot about him (some true, some not). Nevertheless, for the most part, we respect him and give him titles. But we never grow close to him; nor will we. He is worlds removed from us. Is it any different with Jesus? Is He close to us in our daily life? What do we know about Him? Is He worlds removed from us?
How does Jesus become a daily part of your life, experientially present? Matthew 25:34-40.
How do we know Jesus? 1Cor 2:2, 2Cor 13:2-8
Is He worlds removed from us? 1 John (the whole book but especially chapter 4 and most especially v.12-13)
I don't think we can hope to define our relationship with God by any comparison to our human understanding of relationships: (1Cor 2:9-16) But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed [them] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is [rightly] judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
All journeys start with first steps. First steps require an understanding of walking. And walking begins with baby steps. Relationships are no different; neither is our one with Jesus. These verses are my baby steps. One day I hope to be walking and running with Jesus...and then to one day walk in His divine light for always (Rev 21:24).
