Real Love Is: "Not Disobedient to the Seeing From Heaven"

7/1/2001

An excerpt from a sister’s recent letter to her mother—a Call to Life, and therefore an expression of Love. You may find it beneficial also........... : )

As several of us were together talking about what God intends for us in our relationship with Him, and how to approach Him, one of my friends gave this example. He said when he was in high school, he read a book on Hawaii that was incredibly descriptive and detailed and he was enthralled. He read every page. The book was fascinating to him. He thought he knew something about Hawaii, and he did know a little about it from reading the book. But then he went to Hawaii and actually saw and experienced Hawaii first hand. There was no comparison!!! Mere words on a page are so inadequate to describe the reality of a place like Hawaii.

How much more are words on a page inadequate to describe, or convey the reality of the Lord and Creator of the Universe and the reality of experiencing a relationship with Him. Words can point the way to a reality, but they are not the reality. Many people have read the words on the pages of the Bible, but have stopped short of being born from above, having the Holy Spirit of God indwell them. Others have been born from above and have the Spirit inside, but stop short in knowing things about God, doctrines, and verses, and don’t go beyond that to experience the reality of knowing God and having a close relationship with Him. He desires for us to know Him, love Him, walk closely with Him, and experience His love, joy, and peace. He intends to transform us from one degree of glory to another (2Cor.3:18). We can become overcomers, and yes, even more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.

Do you ever wonder if there is more to Christianity, more to a relationship with God and Jesus than you have known and are experiencing? Do you want more? Do you ever wonder about your standing before God? Let the word of God be your guide in this. The purpose of this is to give vision so we will not stop short of what is possible, not condemn anyone. Some people secretly wonder if there is more; others hope there is. The following verses and songs are meant by God and Jesus to be our inheritance, our experience, a wonderful joyous privilege and reality, and to show us what is really possible in a relationship with Him: If any of us are not currently experiencing this; remember, it is possible. God did not show us these things without providing the grace for us to walk in them.

...“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mat.22:37).

Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know YOU, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (Jn.17:3).

“...Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (Jn.13:34).

Also, “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them” (Jn.17:13).

“I have told you these things, so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (Jn.15:11).

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace” (Jn.16:33).

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit...” (Jn.7:38-39).

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mat.11:28-30).

“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful” (1Cor.1:9).

“...I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.... not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death....” (Phil.3:8-10).

“...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom.8:37).

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2Cor.3:18).

Do you know the reality of all this? Are you experiencing the reality of this? Are these just verses to be read, or do these describe the nature of your experience of life in and with Christ? The truth is, each of us has as much of the life and Spirit of Jesus as we desire. Many, many people who attend services of a congregation or consider themselves religious, are missing the reality of a real relationship with Jesus as it could be. Many people who believe they know the Bible or something about religion, are MISSING JESUS. These scriptures and thoughts are not to condemn, but to SAY, “WAKE UP, THERE IS MORE, THERE IS MORE, THERE IS MORE, DO YOU CARE? ARE YOU CONTENT WITH THE CURRENT LEVEL OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD THAT YOU HAVE NOW AND THE CURRENT LEVEL OF RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?’ IT IS CRITICAL FOR EACH OF US TO ASK OURSELVES THESE QUESTIONS.... ‘AM I SEEKING FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS?’ (Mat.6:33). ALSO, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME THAT JESUS IS GLORIFIED IN, THROUGH AND BY MY LIFE?” Does this express your heart?.... “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Ps. 42:1-2).

The following is an old hymn that speaks of a close, intimate walk with God: I Come to the Garden Alone, by C. A. Miles.

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear,

Falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.”

The following is a quote, no, an outburst, from a man who knew and loved and walked with God:

“O Lord, let my life be an exhibit to the value of knowing YOU....

Oh, the fullness, pleasure, excitement of knowing God on earth.

I care not if I ever raise my voice again... if only I may love Him, please Him.

Mayhap (maybe) in His mercy He shall give me a host of children

That I may lead through the vast star fields, to explore His delicacies,

Whose finger ends set them to burning.

But if not, if only I may see Him, touch His garments and smile into my lover’s eyes.

Ah, then, not stars nor children shall matter, only Himself....”

“O Christ, let me know Thee, let me catch glimpses of Thyself, seated and expectant in glory, let me rest there despite all wrong surging round me....” (Jim Elliot from Shadow of the Almighty )

Do you want more of Him? Do you desire a deeper walk with God, a more real, intimate fellowship with Jesus?

There are many great misconceptions about the nature of Christianity, about the nature of faith, about the nature of JESUS and the nature of GOD. Many people have experienced man-made religion and/or intellectually accepted some doctrines and practices they believe to be correct and think they have experienced real Christianity. Some are satisfied with what they have known and experienced, and some have rejected what they have known and seen. Most people think what they have seen or experienced is all that there is or can ever be. Many go through some religious motions and yet have never COME TO JESUS, TURNED TO HIM, HIS PERSON, IN REAL TRUE FAITH.

Some in the religious denominational world and “non-denominational” world ignore the scriptures, and yet others who say they only go by the Bible are like those spoken of by Jesus in John 5:39-40: “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about ME, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”