Campus CrossWalk Magazine: 2005 Summer Issue -- Getting A Better Grip On God

Never grow frustrated or afraid because you cannot understand God. We will never figure out God. And that is great news.

What should frustrate or terrify us is when people fully presume to understand God. If the finite mind (our little human minds) could understand the infinite mind (God), then the infinite mind would not be an infinite mind, but a finite mind.

If what we had been calling the infinite mind was suddenly understood, then what would be proven is that finite minds created it. God would not be God, but rather an imaginary figure conjured up by creative minds in the days of our ancestors.

If we are to have a better grip on God and if our desire is to fellowship with Him; then we must let Him fellowship with us. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and lets Me in, I will come in and dine with him and he will dine with Me” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus implies that He is knocking on the door of each person’s heart and it is their duty to receive Him. So if Jesus wants to come into our lives, then this calls us to decide whether or not to let Him in.

People have all sorts of ideas for how to find God or how to provoke God to find us. And most of it is nonsense. Developing a relationship with God is not a mathematical formula, or a series of magical chants to invoke His attention. Since the Word ‘was God’ and ‘the Word became flesh and lived among us’ (John 1:1-15), then this proves that God does not want to hide nor make it appear as if He is hiding.

Jesus said, “I do not call you ‘servants,’ but I call you ‘friends’ since I have told you all that the Father has told Me’ (John 15:15). A true friend does not hide from us if we are seeking him. A true friend does not make us jump through silly hoops to grow close to him. Rather, a true friend always strives to draw near to us when we call.

Friendships begin when two people (who desire a friendship) meet one another in friendly conversation. If friendships are built on friendly communication, and Jesus calls us ‘friends,’ then I can hardly find a better way to deepen my friendship with God than to engage in conversation. We pray and we keep talking to Him. As the friendship deepens, God will reveal more of Himself and His will for our lives. And as we continue to obey, follow, and accept Him for who He is (rather than who we want Him to be), He can continue to reveal more of Himself to us because He knows that we can handle what He will reveal next.

A relationship with God is a great adventure. Since God is infinite, then our finite minds will never cease to learn more of Him. Our relationship with Him can always deepen; not because we proved ourselves to Him by righteous acts, but because we will have simply spent time with each other.

Friendships begin with friendly conversation. Jesus is knocking on the door. Open it and He will dine with you and you with Him. And when we converse with God, the friendship deepens.

Russell Lingerfelt graduated from Auburn University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Divinity at Pepperdine University where he is involved in youth ministries and world mission efforts. Visit his webpage at http://www.jamesrussell.org .