One thing mortal man at one time or another must face is the reality of God. We come to such a point from every type of angle you can imagine. The world will use every form of logic and reasoning to disprove the existence of a living God. To counter such objections to the reality of God or the validity of the Bible you can look to history, archaeology, sociology, psychology, science and religion; but ultimately you must come to the place where God meets humanity—the inner sanctums of the heart.
RELEVANCE
How does God communicate with you? The Bible is all about people with whom God made contact, communicated on a regular basis and engaged in a relationship. One common thing we do see in the Bible is a phrase used frequently by those who responded to God’s personal call: “here I am.” We see this specifically in the response of Abraham, Jacob, Samuel and Ananias responded. They heard the real whispering voice of God that called them to attention, and responded with simple, open and willing hearts.
You wonder; how do I know it is God speaking? Thoughts suddenly appear front and center in your consciousness that you just know are contrary to your own; thoughts not rationalized, but warm your heart and bring an inner peace and/or joy.
You know God is real to you when your conscience is stirred in a way that moves you to take responsive steps of faith. A sense of awe with a sovereign power beyond self triggers a surrender of the self-will that issues in peace. You know truth that transcends time and space. You come to humility and brokenness of heart.
A common characteristic of those who walked with God was conviction of heart. God was a tangible reality to them. He pierced their hearts. He moved them. Of the long list of heroes of faith mentioned in the 11th chapter of Hebrews, the scripture reports how they acted with an assurance of God’s promises and embraced them as true. They were persuaded to the point of coming to a real sense of peace with their convictions in the reality of God enough to confess that: heaven as a place is more permanent a place than earth; and their relationship with God is more permanent than those of the earth.
REFLECT AND RELATE
How do you approach God?
How does God convey to you a sense of His presence?
How does He make Himself real to you?
REFERENCES
Hebrews 11:1-40; John 14:1-17:25