Discovering God
This is the moment that is often overemphasized as though at one moment one is chasing the things of the world and the next God reveals Himself and they are saved. However, this philosophy bears no humanity. We are given time to encounter God and grow. Thus to assert that the difference between sainthood and sinfulness is a single moment, we would to not give credence to time's deepest and truest purpose. Yet, this is the moment life's apparent meaning is found overturned and suddenly all that was meaningless finds meaning, and one's perspective is changed. For many, it must take place slowly, and for all according to what is best for the particular person. This moment marks the beginning of different, letting God speak while being open to what he says, letting God reveal Himself, and letting God enlighten our perspective.
The openness that is characteristic of the time allows one to discover God in his actuality is not something that God ignores. On the contrary, God's grace gave rise to this openness. It can be certain that can will make the greatest use of even the smallest of opportunities to show his love and care for us, just as although to a greater extent, one trying to romance a dearly beloved potential spouse(cf. Isaiah 62:5). This is where God has attributed the title the Hound of Heaven. God will do everything he can to win us over, and on account of Him being God, that certainly culminates in much. Much like the Magi, went a different way after meeting Christ so also we do.(cf. here)
There is nothing our spiritual antithesises want less for us than an authentic and deep encounter with God. What will our enemies (the demonic, the culture of death, and the concupiscent flesh) do to prevent this? Distract from God, speak louder than God, obstruct/confuse/obfuscate our view of God, and make us believe that God is not worth listening to. This is why silent retreats are such a powerful encounter with God because we withdraw from the battle our enemies try to hold us in. When we give God an opportunity to be heard, he will speak to us. That is, not speaking audibly (although he can if he finds it necessary and good), but speaking to our hearts with loving "caresses" as Therese would say. By making us familiar with the ways of the world/sin, we are compelled to not give God credibility since the normal he wants for us is different than what we are used to; even if it is incomparably better.
God knows there are so many lies believed with great passion in our world. Many view God as an oppressive force, as one that takes life rather than giving it. This is of course false, the life God longs to communicate to us goes far beyond anything sin could even promise let alone accomplish. God is frequently perceived as the imposed of rules and the cold-hearted judge that condemns. However, this only comes from man's own lack of ability to forgive, and in fact, reattributes all the hardships of one's life to God's apparent lack of benevolence. God does not condemn (cf. John 8:11, 2 Peter 3:9, and several others). God does not necessarily enact punishment either, contrary to what the religions of karma assert. Sin is largely its own punishment since in sinning we choose not just the act but also the consequences which is separation from God, Hell.
"Holy, holy, holy. Though the darkness hide Thee. Though the eyes of sinful man thy glory may not see" As already stated, we are lead to distrust in God (cf. Genesis 3). Temptations believability lies in our fundament tendency to not trust God's infinite benevolence. The greater sins we commit the more we abhor the idea of it being taken from us. Knowing that God wants something greater for us than sin, hide from God, push Him away, and cling to our sin. Therefore, sin alone will make us abhor God. The glory of God to a sinner is a sign of inescapable oppression. Of course, once one willfully strives and accomplishes conversion through cooperation with God's grace, this becomes apparent.
In conclusion, whenever we find, come upon, and discover God, we never see sin, the world, or ourselves the same way. The moment we taste the goodness of God, the greatest things of the world are revealed for the vanity it is. Whenever we hear God's voice, we know of God's mercy. We know God watched us sin and sustained us in being at the depth of our brokenness. Yet, all we "hear" from God is love and grace and gift. As a "converted" Christian, we see much of God as He is, but it is not until the eschaton that we will see God for who He is. Would that through all of this revelation that we also be granted the ability to see the world as God does. God's existence becomes demonstrable.
“Come to Me all you who thirst … ” (John 7:37).I will satisfy you and fill you.
Do you thirst to be loved?
I love you more than you can imagine … to the point of dying on a cross for you.
I THIRST FOR YOU. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to describe My love for you.
I THIRST FOR YOU. I thirst to love you and to be loved by you. So precious are you to Me that I THIRST FOR YOU. Come to Me, and I will fill your heart and heal your wounds. I will make you a new creation and give you peace even in your trials.
I THIRST FOR YOU.
