THE LONELINESS OF GOD

This is one of those years when the family can’t get together at Christmas. The distances and expenses are just too great.

My wife and I were overcome by a deep loneliness and sadness. I thought it was just missing our kids, but the intensity was out of proportion to their absence. After a couple of days, I asked the Lord what was going on.

He reminded me of my desire to be his friend, which was my main goal back when my walk with Him began, and true friends share both the joys and sorrows of life. Our Father told me he was allowing me to experience his loneliness and sadness when his children do not come to Him and stay with Him.

He is called “Father” and we are called “His children” for a reason. The essence of our identity is “the family of God,” and as our Father He wants us home with Him. We were born into this world to be a part of His family. Jesus saw the broken heart of our Father when His sons and daughters turned away from Him. He gave his life in horrific death to make a way for us to come home. When we stay away, we break His heart.

We sing many songs in church about freedom from sin and going to heaven, but we miss the point of why we were rescued.
Freedom for what? To run around stores on Black Friday?
Heaven is not the goal – that is just another beautiful place. It is empty without the family.
The goal is to be with Him and know Him.
Paul got it right. “For my determined purpose is that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness.” (Phil 3:10 AMP)

Eternal life is knowing Him, not just receiving Him, praying the sinners prayer, answering an alter call, or going to church. “And this is eternal life that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3
I know Him in seeing what he has made, his creation, like getting to know an artist through his paintings or sculptures.
I know Him by viewing His life in his autobiography – the Word.
I know Him in his grace toward me and those around me.
I know Him through honest and transparent friends. The spirit of man is the unique picture of God in each person.
I get to know Him in candid talk and a listening ear.

Coming to His place, and getting to know Him fills the emptiness in our Father’s heart and makes his sad heart glad to see his children around him. He is not looking for us to act “right,” but to enjoy playing at his feet.

So take a moment as I did to just sit and be with Him this Christmas and in the days to come.

You will give him a priceless gift and put a smile on His face.

CHRISTMAS 2014