What really takes place in the first 'experience' of God? For sure there is a peace and joy but before that any comfortable feeling there comes something disturbing, uprooting. Someone noticed that before we 'experience' peaceful God's presence either in prayer or any other situation, God has to do some 'cleaning' in us. Comparing with His greatness we notice our 'miserable' heart. We are lead to the admitting the fact that our nature is sinful.
Let's look at Peter and his first encounter with Jesus' greatness;
"One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,
He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people
from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said;
"Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." Luke 5;1-8
Also when Isaiah entered the temple, God gave him such an experience of His holiness that the prophet cried out; 'Woe to me! for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."Isaiah 6;5
This kind of ' disturbing' comes from the fact that God is holy and we are not. He is of a pure heart while ours is not. He is light that discloses any piece of 'dust' in our heart. That's why when we are approaching God for the first time we have a feeling of us being ' unworthy', 'unclean'. We would rather hide and not lift up our face.
But God doesn't want to reject us. He wants to have fellowship with us and wants to forgive you as soon as you admit you are a sinner. Then He wants to offer us a new life with a great ministry.
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up". James 4;10
And so happened to Peter. Jesus didn't answer, " Oh, you right Peter you better stay away from me as you are such a sinner." But Jesus' response was:
"Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching men."
After Peter humbled himself before Jesus, He offered him a ministry! The same was with Isaiah.
We read that Isaiah' guilt was taken away and his sin atoned for.
Isaiah says; "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6;8
God also offered a ministry to Isaiah.He was forgiven and he was to bring God's message to the nation of Israel.
You can either humble yourself before the Lord and receive His forgiveness and His righteousness
or you can keep your own righteousness and that will keep you from God!
Jesus said ;"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5;32
Our righteousness surely keeps us from God. So was the reason the Pharisees were upset hearing Jesus speaking, as their own righteousness seemed fine and Jesus was simply disturbing their peace!
That's why so many people would rather have their 'own ' God who doesn't 'disturb' them!
The one who says; it is ok what you are doing, you are a good person. No one is perfect. This type of God 'feels' very comfortable to be with at any moment..
But there is a different situation when it comes to the real God who created heavens and earth. The One who is Holy and just. The real One existing, not the one created in our own mind.
We can easily create our own God if we don't come to Jesus as only He is the image of the true invisible God. Colossians 1;15
Any 'god' around, apart from coming through Jesus, is not a true God! No other gods will 'disturb' us, no other gods will 'shake' us.They can't accuse, they can't forgive, they can't do anything!
Facing the real holy God is what will change you.
Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him. John 14;6
There is no other way around.
And what keeps so many people from coming to Jesus? Knowing He offers life, more- He offers everlasting life.He can save you from God's coming judgement and He can wipe away your quilt.
What keeps then so many of people from Jesus?
As God is holy, so is His Son and He will bring the same feeling in our hearts. He will reveal the truth about us, He will help us to see the truth about ourselves- sometimes might be a 'shocking truth', He will let us see our sinful nature.
He will let you see that' What you really think you are, you are not. What you do NOT think you are , that is the real YOU. He turns you around.
If He is the Lord , the light in the midst of our darkness, He must show us the reality.
He says " Do not commit murder; anyone who commits murder must be brought to judgement." Then I would think "Oh I don't belong to those, I never killed anyone." Good, but
He also says " Anyone who nurses anger against his brother must be brought to judgement." After these words I would actually admit, I have nothing for my defense, I am guilty as well.
The same would be true in other aspects of our life. Jesus would reveal the truth about us that we are in a deep trouble We can't carry on like that without the Savior!
The only hope is only in Him, so don't stay away. You need Christ in your life.
Before you come to Him, you might think you don't like your 'bad side' to be exposed. Jesus seems too far disturbing. He wouldn't approve my love for the money, my dishonest thoughts.So you feel more comfortable to stay away.
"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed" John 3;20
Nobody likes to be exposed. But if you like your ' darkness' you will keep from the light and you won't see God..
That is what many people in the world choose. But for whatever reason you hide before God, you will lost in the end. Whatever you are trying to gain in this life and you live without God, you will loose in the end.
Does it pay off to live without God? Definitely not! And rejecting the Savior is the worst decision a person can make!
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation;
of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8;36-38
Our life is really short comparing with all the eternity. In that short time of our existence on earth we are to find God. Whatever decision we make now, it will decide about the place where we will spend eternity.
If you chose the life with God, you made the best decision of your life, as He is to bring you abundant life. You saved yourselves from the trouble that is facing eternal punishment.
You inherited all the God's blessings that for His children. Offer your life to Him and He will guide you. His ways are always the best. He is the living God, He will surely make a difference in your life.
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" John 10;10
"Those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." Romans 8;30
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33;3
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