Do you know we encounter God everywhere in almost every way everyday? Everywhere we see the hints and whispers around us. His creation, His fingerprints, His influence. Once you begin to recognize Him it’s hard not to see it.
“For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.” Romans 2 : 14-16 ESV
I use to think that encountering God was somewhat of a rare thing. That people had to be ‘led’ to knowing Him. While a portion of that might be true in a relational kind of way, there are always the signs and an inner knowledge of His existence.
We choose to either go towards Him or away from Him. That even is true for us even AFTER beginning a relationship with Him. Those daily choices are also part of all of our current relationships.
I always wondered about how a loving God could condemn people to hell. That’s actually not his choice. It’s ours. We choose by either walking towards Him or away from Him. Ever hear of the ‘hardened heart’? That’s because the person has repeatedly chosen to walk away from God. To refuse His Voice, His Love, His advice for us. They want to rule instead of allowing Him to show them the way. Choice after choice, always choosing the defiant way … against God. They are making conscious choices … to refuse God. That hardens their heart.
When we stand before Him … and watch the replay of our lives … and watch ALL the choices, words, actions, we made either FOR or AGAINST Him … there will be no doubt or denying of our reward or of our demise. There will be no argument we can give that can refute our decisions. For the evidence will be laid out for … everyone to see.
God’s heart is FOR His creation. But by giving such a powerful gift as free will so that real love could exist … that choice allows for a separation from Him … by our choice. Jesus came to give us intimacy back with God, and what we choose to believe about Him and His message will mark your life.
“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:20-23 ESV
So you say “Hey I’ve already accepted Jesus … so I’m ‘good’.”
Congratulations, you taken the marked step towards God and getting to know Him.
But what are you doing EVERYDAY in walking towards Him? What are you growing in? Is the Sunday morning ‘Cruise Ship encouraging message’ the limit of your devotion to Him? Do you converse with Him everyday beyond your ritualistic prayers? Do you seek Him out for advise? Are you working to hear Him better? Are you working on seeing and recognizing His divine appointments for you each day? Are you asking Him to speak to you, guide you, and instruct you? Or is He just your fire and disaster insurance agent? For whenever you need Him in a crisis?
“Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”
Genesis 5:24 ESV
Let’s together make the choices to walk towards / with Him today.