I find it rather interesting that most often believers today feel pretty confident in their relationship with God. They feel so confident that they may not even feel the need to press into knowing God at a deeper level. It is as if whatever little they know is enough, and honestly, I have found myself there at times too. It seems to be somewhat of a mystery to me why complacently seems to be woven into the threads of modern-day Christianity. Have we found ourselves so comfortable that we don’t see the need or feel the urge to really surrender all of who we are to God? Has life been so good to us that God is only an afterthought of a fun-filled day full of feasting and fellowship?

Moses, outside of Jesus, was one of the greatest men to have walked upon the earth. One could surmise that Moses knew God, after all, he spent countless hours on Mt. Sinai basking in the very presence of the Almighty. Moses heard the physical voice of God and saw many visions, perhaps, too many to comprehend. God revealed things to Moses that we could only dream of not only knowing, but understanding. Moses loved God and trusted Him wholeheartedly. When I look into the life of Moses, I yearn for the kind of relationship he had with God. Moses shared an intimacy with God that I have barely come to understand, but what is even more amazing is that what closeness Moses felt with God, wasn’t enough.

”If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” Exodus 33:13 | NIV84

When I read these words, they seem like a desperate cry, a deep longing coming right from the heart of Moses and yet, I wonder, didn’t he already know God intimately? A more humbling realization is where is my cry? You see, God is infinite, meaning, there is no end to Him. It’s hard to comprehend such a thought because even the Universe has an end, but God does not. I can’t grasp the thought no matter how intelligent I may try to present myself as being. Moses knew God, but yet there was so much more to know and understand that it produced an unquenchable deep longing within his soul to cry out to God in desperation… ‘…teach me your ways so I may know you…’

Paul, the preacher to the Gentiles and the author of most of the New Testament, had an intimate relationship with God. Paul experienced many wonderful miracles and preached to thousands of people the message of Christ. Thousands flocked to hear Paul preach and to be healed. He walked in the power of Christ… and yet, even that was not enough for Paul.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Philippians 3:10 | NIV84

Wouldn’t one think that Paul knew Christ? It seems to me that there are a great number of people today that proclaim to know Christ, but yet I wonder when I look to Moses and to Paul. Here are just two examples from Scripture where you can clearly see that these men walked with God, but, for them, walking with God was not enough. The more they cleaved unto the bosom of God, the more they desired to know Him and the more they despised themselves. In their relationship with God, they didn’t become boastful at all, but rather, they became more humble in knowing how finite they really were before the Infinite Loving God. Their call out to God in desperation can be compared to the longing of a lover who hasn’t seen their beloved and how they cannot wait for their return. They pant after the moments they shared and how they can’t wait to share those sweet, precious moments once again only to get to know their lover even more intimately. That they may become more increasingly as one.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth–  for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love you! Take me away with you–let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers. Song of Solomon 1:2-4a | NIV84

So should our love and desire be for God. Moses felt it, Paul felt it and even David experienced it as well. Like a hound dog on the scent trail of rabbit, so should the longing of being in the presence of the LORD God be.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalms 42:1-2 | NIV84

Throw away the fading lifeless treasures that hold you back from running freely and gladly unto the Lord. Open your arms and cleave unto Him as a woman so loves her man. We are made in the very image of God, that meaning, we possess a part of God, the eternal part, the soul and the soul longs for its beloved to be reunited in the fullness of love and intimacy. A relationship with God is more than just understanding who He is. We can understand how a tree forms and grows in all of it’s amazing beauty, but you cannot know a tree intimately. A relationship with God is about surrendering your whole being, learning to fully trust Him and allowing Him into the secret parts of your soul that only He can go. There within lies the satisfaction of the deep longing of the soul. It is when the created becomes one with its Creator. God is the perfect Lover for your soul. So, drop everything, run and go meet with God.