While I love the idea of being alone with God, I have to stop myself and realize that God likes to be alone with me.
The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now raise your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward, and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever. – Genesis 13:14-15 NASB
God waits for Lot to leave and then has Abram all to Himself. What does He do in this moment of intimacy? God makes a promise, actually, I believe He repeats a promise, but this was perfect timing because Lot really could have messed things up.
I live in this world where there is a lot of tension between choosing between what I see and what I do not see. Everyday I ask myself – what will I choose? Abram’s nature was to trust God. Lot’s was to choose by what he saw. Lot moved to the edges, Abram stayed centred. Lot ended up with corrupton and temptation, Abram found a place of assurance and peace. Lot was spiritually comprimised, Abraham was spiritually alive. Lot moved with sinnners, Abram moved with God. Lot built no altars, Abram built them all. Lot chose by sight alone, and that would make it a mistake.
What an encouragement to read a similar situation with Jesus and His time in the desert. It was alone time with God but it also was where temptation still existed. I read the story here – Luke. 4:1-13
The first temptation had to deal with taking control of the situation Himself. Wow, that has to be my default. Jesus could have taken care of the situation, He is the Son of God, but He chooses to trust His Father to provide. If I can make a decision to get out of the wilderness and end my hunger, I would miss that God wants to meet me there and help me grow in it. Why do I want the quick escape, an easy out?
The second tempation was about testing and control God. I am glad I rarely do this now, but it was quite common when I started my early days as a follower of Jesus. I remember some of the things I would say, even to the point of rejecting God.
The third tempation was about controlling the world. This I just learned a number of years ago. It is something that makes sense to chase – just like Lot did. God has a purpose for my life, why is that not enough? This is where my alone time with God builds a strong faith in my life. Rather than serving myself, and the world, I chose to serve God.
While seeking God, there will be temptations that want to push me further away from Him. But it is also a place where God can meet with me, a place where I can hear His voice, and a place where I can experience His presence just like Abram and Jesus.
Father, I give You my alone time so that You can have the space for Your holiness to enter my life.
Erwin (evanlaar1922)
Sixty-six books in a year 