Pits and Pinnacles
Today, in evangelical Christianity, there might be some who seek an “experience” with God. God is sought on the pinnacles. But God is in the pits and the pinnacles.
The seeking part is good, but the disappointment of missing some magnificent moment is not. The paradigm could look like this:
- If I seek God through some mechanism and I don’t “experience” anything, then I didn’t find God.
- If I seek God through some mechanism and I do “experience” something, then I did find God.
The challenge is that, in both cases, the result could be a false negative and/or a false positive. As the old gospel tracts would tell us, “faith is a fact and not a feeling.” And so, if you are looking for God on the pinnacle of a mountain top experience, feel free to take the pressure off of yourself.
If you want to experience God, you must receive the Holy Spirit.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. – 1 John 4:13-16
It’s quite simple, really. When you receive the Spirit by trusting Jesus, you receive the love of God. And, once you have the Spirit, you can experience God – by faith.
If you want to experience God, be encouraged to read your Bible.
When you have the Spirit of God, then God’s Word will make more sense to you. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. – 1 Cor. 2:14
God is found in the Bible – in His Word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. – John 1:1.
Further, Jesus became the living Word. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14
With the Spirit of God as our guide and by filling our minds with God’s Word as found in the Bible, we are equipped and encouraged to live out our faith.
If you want to experience God, live out your faith.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. – Hebrews 11:6
So, shouldn’t we seek God? Yes! But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
We should seek God for the sake of faith – and not for an experience or a sign. “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. – Matthew 16:4
Summary
God has laid out the path for us:
- Acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God – God’s Word in the flesh – and accept Him as your Lord and Savior.
- Read His Word – the Bible.
- Live out your faith.
Faith by Fact
It doesn’t matter if you feel His presence or if you don’t feel His presence. It doesn’t matter whether you feel anything at all. Serve God in faith.
Most of the time, we vacillate from steady plodding to being in the pits (and some occasional pinnacles). If you are a Believer in Christ, and you are living somewhat of a mundane and predictable day-to-day life, then you are in great company. Consider these examples:
- God found Noah living a regular – yet righteous life. Genesis 6
- God found Abraham sitting at the entrance to his tent on a hot day. Genesis 18
- God found Moses tending his father-in-law’s sheep. Exodus 3
- God found Gideon threshing wheat. Judges 6
- God found David while he was tending his father’s sheep. 1 Samuel 16
- God found favor with Mary. Luke 1
There you have it. Regular people. Living regular lives. Going about their everyday business. Being faithful.
So, may you find God – or rather – may God find you – being faithful.
JAN
About the Author:
Ken Moll is the Principal and Founder of Blue Elevator®. With professional experience spanning four decades, Ken has a breadth of foundational business knowledge rarely found – making him part of an elite class of professionals. Ken's passion is helping clients of Blue Elevator® get their “business to the next level™.”