Is A Relationship Really Possible?
When I was a child, we attended the Nazarene Church of Demotte, IN. On Sundays, it was an hour drive to and from church, so most times, we did not return on Sunday or Wednesday nights. Instead, after church dismissed, we would go to my great-grandparents home in Wolcott, but only after we ate some lunch. Now, I only share this because I grew up in the late 70s, so I remember a time when the restaurants were not open on Sunday, when we would be starving before we could arrive wherever lunch was going to be shared.
Fast forward to the other days of the week: the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday. We would not travel too far from home because of the work that needed to be accomplished on the farm where we lived. Oftentimes, I found myself sitting in our front living room whenever there was nothing I was supposed to be doing; that’s where mom had hung a portrait of Jesus over the fireplace. I was fascinated with that picture; I was intrigued by the man named Jesus. Did He really look like this? Did He really have long hair and a beard? Did He really sit and pray to God with His eyes lifted up toward heaven? Could Jesus really do anything? Intrigued. Full of Questions. Fascinated. Full of Wonder. Hopeful. That was me.
Back then, I heard the Bible stories taught in children’s church by Ms. Pohl after Sunday School concluded. She taught about the “love of Jesus for us,” and I wondered—How is that really possible? Ms. Pohl was a saintly, older woman (grandmother-age), one we loved dearly. We listened to with alertness because she spoke of a person, of the man, of Jesus, of the one we could personally know, and the one we could share a relationship with each day. Ms. Pohl shared how, whether we were attending church or sitting at home in our living room, we could know God!
A Relationship.
That seemed so strange to me.
I saw the “picture” of Jesus there in our living room.
Could I really know this man—Jesus?
Could He really know me?
Could we REALLY walk together—In A Relationship?
In studying the Word of God (as an adult), I find myself still drawn to this man Jesus. When I see the words written in “red,” I remember the lessons of Ms. Pohl and the way she said over and over—“These are the words Jesus spoke while He walked as a man on earth.” As the years passed, the Holy Spirit of God convicted my heart, revealed my need for a relationship with the Savior Jesus, and at fifteen, I gave my heart to Him.
I am now fifty-six years old, a long way from the child of nine who sat there in our front living room, looking up at the portrait depiction of the Savior.
I am so far removed (in years) from Ms. Pohl’s many Bible lessons.
I am a woman who has been a believer for 40+ years, and I understand the answers to some of my questions that I asked way back—when I sat, mesmerized by the God-man Jesus.
Just early this week, I spoke these words to one of my daughters as I drove home from school: “I have a relationship with a PERSON. I don’t worship a statue; I talk with a REAL PERSON. It’s a RELATIONSHIP with A REAL PERSON—the Son of God—JESUS!”
Let’s pause and See together JESUS.
“Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God?
For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
But regarding the fact that the dead rise, have you not read the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saving, “I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB”?
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”
(Mark 12: 24-27 NASB)
Jesus was often questioned by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Scribes about the “spiritual things,” because they hoped to “trip Him up” and make Him say something blasphemous about Jehovah God.
If that were possible, then Jesus would have been saying something about HIMSELF since GOD IS GOD & GOD IS JESUS & GOD IS THE HOLY SPIRIT!—THE TRINITY of GOD!
- ALMIGHTY GOD!
- JESUS the SON of GOD, the GOD-MAN!
- The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD JESUS PROMISED AFTER HIS DEATH, BURIAL & RESURRECTION—BEFORE HE ASCENDED BACK TO HEAVEN!
I saw the “picture” of Jesus there in our living room, but PHOTOS are JUST PHOTOS. It’s hard to see the REAL beauty of a scene OR the REAL PERSON of JESUS through a photo.
Could we really know this man—Jesus?
Could He really know each one of us?
Could we each—REALLY walk together—In A Relationship?
YES, IT IS TOTALLY POSSIBLE!
Just like with our children, Just like with our close friends, Just like with our spouses, & Just like with our parents and family—We can only build a RELATIONSHIP with them—whenever we know who they are & whenever we spend time with them, working toward building—A RELATIONSHIP.
Since Jesus is God, the Son of God & the man of God, and since Jesus returned to heaven to sit down next to God to await the day He will return. Since Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit to walk with us who Believe through Faith, who Walk with Him in Relationship, we must understand (the best we can here on earth) this FAITH-thing.
I read this description of FAITH—“Driving at night in the fog, you can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” (E. L Doctorow)
Thank goodness, Jesus did not leave us alone in this journey.
Thank goodness, we have the Word of God to instruct us.
Thank goodness, we have the Holy Spirit of God alive & living inside us—because we BELIEVE!
Thank goodness, God’s Salvation through His Son Jesus provides us a way to know HIM—because we ACCEPT the TRUTH!
Thank goodness, the Holy Spirit convicts our heart, prompting & guiding us to the heart of the Father, convicting us, leading us to—CONFESS OUR SINS!
Ryan Ellis sings the melody “Heart of the Father,” lyrics that remind us of the truth of God. Take time to listen today & see.
We cannot know what today will bring, nor even tomorrow, or six months from now, but THIS we do KNOW—JESUS CHRIST IS REAL!
We can KNOW HIM in a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP!
So—Is A Relationship Really Possible with the Son of God?
When the scribes came up to Jesus and inquired about the most important commandment of God, Jesus spoke, leading them to SEE the TRUTH!
Let us see the words of Jesus for the answer.
“Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR ISRAEL! THE LORD IS OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE;
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’
The second is this: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
(Mark 12: 29-31 NASB)
Let us HEAR the Words of Jesus.
Let us SEE the image of Jesus, the Son of God.
Let us BELIEVE the person of Jesus.
Let Us!