On Encountering the Divine [Part 2]
“Faith comes out of awe, out of an awareness that we are exposed to his presence, out of anxiety to answer the challenge of God, out of an awareness of our being called upon.“ (Heschel)
Learning to see the world in terms of the divine is not easy. Our minds are preoccupied with every distraction and we have been taught to be skeptical in all areas of faith. From childhood we have learned how to answer questions and solve problems rather than bask in the tension that comes from wonder. In doing so we have shut our eyes to the divine mysteries all around us. If we are ever to encounter God, we must begin by recognizing where He is trying to get our attention.
It is out of the miracle that God calls to us.
When Moses drew near to the burning bush in Exodus 3, God called out to him by name, “Moses. Moses!” In this moment the divine act became personal. The sunset hangs in the sky as though it was painted just for you. The rain falls and refreshes you exactly when you need it the most. The gentle breeze comes and fills you with a sense of peace in the midst of a troubled time. The stars strike you with a reminder that God is there listening to your prayers. This is faith; the sense that God is present and calling out to you by name. It’s personal. It’s familiar.
“Moses, Moses!”
This is the call from a God who knows you. It’s a call that invites you to come face to face with the depths of his love that he has just for you. It’s the experience of the bride being called upon by her beloved. “I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. ‘Open to me!‘” (Song of Songs 5:2) This is the terrifying language of love. As we seek the divine and are drawn towards him through wonder and awe we realize something truly unbelievable. This God is actually calling out to us. This God is seeking us.
This is a God who is pursuing you.
The call of God is an invitation to encounter his presence. It’s an invitation to commune with the creator of the universe who welcomes you as a loved one. It’s an invitation to experience the unending love of God.
Lesson 2: But You Have To Respond.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20) We can’t encounter the presence of God if we don’t answer his call to let him in. We have to respond. The scary thing is that this isn’t just surface level belief that we are being invited to. This is the life changing, unrelenting, soul-exposing depths of the passionate love of God that we are being called to experience.
The lover of our soul is desperately crying out to us for union. “Open to Me!” Inviting us deeper and further into a relationship with this God who says that we have “captivated [his] heart.” (Song of Songs 4:9)
The question now is whether or not you are willing to surrender to his invitation.
