"Is My love enough for you?"

I think I'm finally getting it. Sometimes the most simple truths take forever to sink in for the precise reason that they are.....simple, not complicated.

I thought I had settled this issue years ago, but over time I keep revisiting it. It can be a big one for any person who desires to follow Jesus as closely as possible.

A few years ago I was living with my best friend for a couple of months during a transition. I had just left a very uncomfortable situation living with an alcoholic roommate, and I as well left a corporate job that was suffocating me. There was a lot of change going on at once. I actually felt I was being directed quite strongly by God to leave this position, so I finally jumped ship. The conviction was that strong. Although I believe God gives us a lot of freedom to make our own choices and that He doesn't micromanage everything we do, this was something He seemed to be putting his finger on quite strongly. I had to follow through.

I actually didn't work for about a month, so I spent this time pondering the future and where I was going. As I also waited for an apartment to open up in the same building as my friend, I had some free time to think about a lot of things. I sat down one afternoon and wrote a journal entry.

Generations come and go.
A man lives his days as if he has an eternity of them in one lifetime.
What if a man gains the whole world but loses his own soul?
The pressure consumes me to be this or do that.

But what of it?
Is not who I am now enough?

"Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a women named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and then went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38)

Many get trapped into striving for in this lifetime what can easily be taken away, in a moment. There is only one Person that can never be taken from us in this life or the next.

As Paul so eloquently stated:

"For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus or Lord." (Romans: 8: 38)

I Will Rise to Meet You

I had an experience earlier this afternoon that causes me to reflect once again on the amazing love and majesty of God. I was in a store picking up things I needed, and this image and statement came to me in a flash within my heart and mind: Jesus was sitting on a throne, and as He stood up and looked toward me He said, “I will rise to meet you.”

I was a bit surprised as I was not expecting this at all. But, behind the normal routine of life I feel I have been lead into the desert so that He may speak to me more clearly. While life moves forward and there are good things happening, I feel as well that I am being stripped of all needless baggage and being led to a lonely place for a time.

It seems to me that a process that was started earlier this autumn is continuing with more intensity and increased speed. Many situations have converged at once to clear the path ahead I believe. It is true that while there is a part of me that would like for things to continue on as they are, I know they simply cannot. It is also true that I have held on to certain things far too long.

While Jesus walked in the flesh, He was very present and aware of everyday existence. At the same time, He was intensely focused on accomplishing His eternal mission. He had strong words in regard to those who desired to follow Him:

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9: 59-62)

In the process of letting go of all that besets us as we walk toward God, He meets us half way and comes toward us with passionate, loving expectancy. He is not content to simply sit and wait for us in such a nonchalant manner as if He had better things to do.

His invitation costs us nothing less than everything, but in return we gain the fullness of relationship with Him who is the author of all creation and a God who is absolute perfection in love, for now, and all of eternity.

Amen.