The mistake I made was going to the service thinking I could just slip in, sit and take in the God-stuff and slip out again without anything major happening.
It’s not a mistake I make often, but it is a mistake I made that day.
The preacher was passionately declaring what God had put on His heart, and you know he was a roll because it was clear it wasn’t jus thte man talking. It was clear that each word spoken was heavily invested with truth. A friend of mine put it so well, recently, when he observed that Jesus doesn’t just talk in a challenging way, He is laying out an ultimatum. Some of the way in which He speaks leaves the listener in no doubt that you will choose His way, or your way, but there is no middle ground or grey area. That He waits patiently does not detract from the sharp contrast of either option.
As I listened to the words being spoken, again it became very clear that God was calling me to Himself. Again I heard and felt convicted and again I asked God this heartfelt and very real question,
Why don’t You leave me alone?
True story. That’s what I asked. The question came from the realisation again, that no matter how far I felt I strayed from him, no matter what I had done, not only would He still call me back to Himself, He would also make known to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would never be alone. He would always be there prompting, hinting and blatantly expressing His love for me and His desire for me to be shaped in the image of His Son and proclaim His goodness to the world around me.
I cannot stress enough His relentless pursuit of His children wherever they are and in whatever condition they find themselves. Misunderstood or rejected by their own brothers and sisters, these children are still precious in the sight of God and whatever they do, the call remains on them. As long as that is the case, God appears to move heaven and earth to let the children know they are His and He is theirs.
Sometimes in my helpless situation my worth is low and I, admittedly, am more prone to wallow in it. God, obviously has other ideas and is only too ready to get stuck into me in my mess to jerk me out of it and carry on with the business to which He called me.
It is not so much that He is a pest, it is more that He is persistent. It is not that He is a pain, it is that He wants us to avoid further greater pain down the road, by living in obedience now.
So as much as I may want Him to leave me alone, He won’t do it. Thank God He won’t either, for life only really has true meaning and fulfilment with Him than without.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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