“At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push into conscious awareness of His Presence.” – A. W. Tozer
A thought-provoking book I’d like to recommend: A. W. Tozer’s “The Pursuit of God”. What is more, it’s the reason I am sitting here, sipping some ginger tea on a rainy Sunday, desperate to share some thoughts.
Tozer devotes his words to remind the fellow believer about the core of the Christian faith and to reprimand the heart that has lost its fire. A heart that has become content with ‘right opinions’ (doctrine) and void of an intimate and personal experience:
“tasting of the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts” – A. W. Tozer
It is a book devoted to the panting Spirit that longs to push through the ‘veil’ and find there God Himself. Seeking Him for no other reason than to enjoy His Presence.
I read his words with a mix of deep yearning and conviction. Desperate to see and taste the Presence of God and simultaneously convicted of the many times I have missed His heart, having pursued the gifts rather than the giver. Habitually bringing God a list of my needs during my times of prayer, rather than consciously entering into the ‘holy of holies’ eager to find Him. Trying to get some direction or ‘right opinion’ from His word, while neglecting to cherish His word as a revelation of Himself.
Allowing the business and distractions of life to take precedent and missing out on the restoring and refreshing communion with God.
“The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.” – A. W. Tozer
I know I am not alone in this. It’s a heart issue that has manifested itself in many ways – some less subtle than others.
There is a term I have come across just a few weeks ago called “moralistic therapeutic deism”. It’s a term that was introduced in 2005 in a book titled “Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers”.1 In short, it is a prevalent believe that has reduced God to some mix of therapist, moral teacher and personal butler with the goal of being happy and living a moral life in order to get into heaven.
In contrast stands the Gospel as found in scripture:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” – John 3:16
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” – John 17:3
Or as the Westminster short Catechism states:
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Oh what bliss, to approach God as a redeemed child ready to enjoy His very self.
Where are those with burning hearts for God Himself?
Where are those children of God that can testify to His Goodness and Majesty manifested in their lives and make others hungry for more?
And what kind of Gospel are we sharing with others?
I pray that we may return to our first love, to the pursuit of God Himself.
To the place were His love may compel us to enter into His presence with confidence and assurance. That we, as children, may enjoy Him and He may again be our truest treasure and delight.
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
[…]
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
Hymn: Be thou my vision
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