 "AS A LITTLE CHILD"The Deeper Experience: Symbols of the RelationshipWhat is thought to be a good relationship with God, a solid Christian experience?The
typical 'good Christian' prays to God in the morning and, hopefully, again
in the evening. He believes in God. Once in a while he has troubles, and
prays again. Most
of the time, he is a pretty good person, He is a "Christian."
And that pretty much summarizes it. If that is what you think
Christianity is all about, this book will provide you with some startling
information. Yet, as you will learn, it has a solid Scriptural foundation.
What
kind of relationship are we focusing on in this book? Not your relations
with your family, your friends, or your church, but the position, the
stance you take toward God. How you approach Him, how you relate yourself
to Him. In your view, what is He to you, and what are you to Him? In this
book, we are getting down to the heart of genuine Christian experience. What are the Biblical symbols, used by God, to represent the close relationship we, individually, can have with Him? You
will recall the parable of the lost coin. An urgent search was made for
it; and, when found, the householder and her friends rejoiced. This symbol
beautifully portrays the love that God has for us. When He finds us, He
holds us close to Himself. Yet the symbol is incomplete, for it does not
show our part in the relationship. There are other symbols, which we
should also consider. What member of the plant family did God use to symbolize His people?Someone
will reply that He used the evergreen tree. That is true (3BC 1142). Yet
this is a description of the Christian in relation to life around him, in
regard to both adversity and success. Far
more frequently, we find another botanical species used to describe His
people—and this one is used to describe their relationship to Himself. Not
the mighty oak, but as branches of a tender vine. "I
am the reality; I am the True Vine. . The branch cannot live separated
from the vine; no more can you live unless you are abiding in
Me." 5 Testimonies, 230. Although
there are many different types of vines throughout the world, few plants
are more delicate than the vine, Why would God use this plant to represent
His faithful followers? The answer is simple: It clings. The tendrils wrap
around and hold to something stronger outside of itself. No other type of
plant in the world has this special quality. God
Himself selected this plant to represent His people. It represents the
relation they are to sustain toward Him. It is not an off-and-on touch;
it is an ongoing, persistent clinging. "The connection of the branch with the vine, He said, represents the relation you are to sustain to Me, The scion is engrafted into the living vine, and fiber by fiber, vein by vein, it grows into the vine stock. The life of the vine becomes the life of the branch." Desire of Ages, 675, "This
union with Christ, once formed, must be maintained. Christ said, Abide in
Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it
abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.' This is no
casual touch, no off-and-on connection. The branch becomes a part of the
living vine. The communication of life, strength, and fruitfulness from
the root to the branches is unobstructed and constant." Desire of
Ages, 676. "The
root sends its nourishment through the branch to the outermost twig. So
Christ communicates the current of spiritual strength to every believer.
So long as the soul is united to Christ, there is no danger that it will
wither or decay. "The
life of the vine will be manifest in fragrant fruit on the branches. .
When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be
seen in our life; not one will be missing."—Desire of Ages. 676. "Our
professions are worthless unless we abide in Christ; for we cannot be
living branches unless the vital qualities of the Vine abound in us. In
the genuine Christian the characteristics of his Master will appear, and
when we reflect the graces of Christ in our lives and characters, the
Father loves us as He loves His Son." 5 Bible Commentary, 1144. It
is sometimes said that we are the individual branches, the church is the
stock, and Christ the root. It is true that there is another, separate,
symbol about Israel being a vine (Isaiah 5:1-7: Romans 11:17-21), but
those references clearly reveal that we—not a church—are the
branches and Christ is the stock. In this symbol, everyone is engrafted
into Christ, the vine; for none of Adam's children were born into Christ. This
is a beautiful picture of Christian experience, yet it is only a plant.
Is there not another, more complete symbol which God used to describe
the personal relationship of each of His children to Himself? What member of the animal kingdom did God use to symbolize His people?He
did not select a powerful beast like a tiger or elephant, nor even one
that is cunning and resourceful, like the fox. Of all the animals to
represent His people, God selected the sheep. It is quite well-known that
the sheep is one of the most defenseless of all creatures. Indeed, it
should long ago have been slain by its enemies. However, God gave the
sheep the warmest and sturdiest of all fur—wool. And He placed it in
massive amounts on the sheep. That wool is highly valued. The
Lord did this so the sheep would, from the most ancient times, be cared
for by shepherds. Without such tender care, the flock would die. The
sheep senses its utter dependence on the shepherd, and meekly lets him
lead it from place to place. Adding
to the difficulty of the situation, the sheep does not know how to protect
the grass it eats. Unlike other foragers, sheep will quickly overgraze and
ruin limited pasture. You cannot just put a flock in an enclosure near
your house, as you could with other farm animals. Sheep require too much
space. So the shepherd must constantly go before them, leading them to new
sources of food. This means that new streams and water holes have to be
found. The shepherd must spend his full time providing for all their
needs. "As
the shepherd leads his flock over the rocky hills, through forest and wild
ravines, to grassy nooks by the riverside; as he watches them on the
mountains through the lonely night, shielding from robbers, caring
tenderly for the sickly and feeble, his life comes to be one with theirs.
A strong and tender attachment unites him to the objects of his care.
However large the flock, the shepherd knows every sheep. Every one has its
name, and responds to the name at the shepherd's call." Desire of
Ages, 479. We
are like sheep. We cannot make it alone. We need God's help—every
moment of every day. "For
ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and
Bishop of your souls." 1 Peter 2:25. "As
the shepherd goes before his sheep, himself first encountering the
perils of the way, so does Jesus with His people. 'When He putteth forth
His own sheep, He goeth before them.' The way to heaven is consecrated by
the Saviour's footprints." Desire of Ages. 480. Yet
sheep can become lost; and, when a predator comes, they may scatter in
fear. "As
a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep
that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them
out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark
day." Ezekiel 34:12. "In
the parable, the shepherd goes out to search for one sheep—the very
least that can be numbered. So if there had been but one lost soul, Christ
would have died for that one." Christ's Object Lessons, 187. About
20 years ago, when the present writer and his family lived in southern
Illinois, they made the acquaintance of a nearby family that had sheep. We
were amazed to learn that an adult sheep is so defenseless that, if a
passing coyote jumps up on its side, the sheep will fall over
sideways—and cannot thereafter get back on its feet! Its heavy coat of
wool makes its sides so rounded, it will lay there with its feet off the
ground until it dies. This
helplessness is all the more remarkable when we consider the goat.
Although the sheep is totally dependent on its shepherd for care, yet the
Lord could have arranged matters differently. The goat has many
characteristics the sheep has, yet the goat is surefooted, and quite able
to take care of itself. So much so, that the shepherd sometimes uses a
goat to help lead the sheep. In
view of these facts, it is somewhat astounding that the Lord would use the
sheep to represent His people! He did this to teach them a powerful truth,
one they are slow to learn. When
speaking to His disciples about the coming judgment, when the wicked and
righteous are all gathered together for the final separation, Jesus
said: "When
the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels With Him,
then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be
gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And He shall set the sheep on
His right hand, but the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:31-33. In
the final judgment, Jesus, Himself—the great Master Shepherd—will
separate the sheep from the goats. Why does He prefer the sheep over the
goats? Surely, the goats are more capable! Goats
are the most independent of all grazing, foraging livestock. They are so
independent, that it is with difficulty that they can be kept within
enclosures. While goats can take care of themselves, the sheep cannot.
They look to their shepherd to care for them. Goats
go through a lifetime managing their own lives. They break out of fences,
and do whatever they are inclined to do. Much of the time it seems to be
the wrong thing. In
marked contrast, the sheep, ever on the brittle brink of disaster from
predators, spend a lifetime of conscious dependence on the shepherd. Although
it can and does get randomly lost, the sheep knows enough not to run away
from the shepherd tending it (unless the arrival of the wolf suddenly
frightens it). Goats
are stubborn delinquents; sheep are submissive children, ever ready to be
guided by their master. Of all the animals in the world, they alone have a
special child—parent relationship with the person caring for them. Even
though the sheep is a fine symbol of our relationship to God, yet it lacks
the part our human intelligence has in maintaining that close association.
The shepherd must lead out in caring for the sheep. The animal is too
ignorant to have much say in the matter. But, in real life, you and I have
a key role in remaining close to God. A sheep lacks the proper
understanding for this task. Another symbol helps explain this
relationship. What bird did God use to symbolize His people? Tiny
chicks! The weakest and most helpless of all. This
is what God wants to do for all of us: "How
often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her Wings." Matthew 23:37. How
kindly and full of goodness and mercy is our God, to use such an
illustration! Unlike the sheep, the tiny chicks are extremely alert to
stay near their mother and run to her in time of danger. In
late afternoon as the sky is darkening somewhat, the mother hen calls to
her little ones—and they hurry to her! Then, leading them to a safe
place, she crouches down somewhat, leaving just enough space beneath her
for the chicks to hide securely. One by one, they press beneath her soft
feathers. This
is what God wants to do for you and me. He wants us very close to Himself,
where we will be safe. What a powerful truth is thus illustrated. "0
Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often would I have gathered thy children
together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would
not!" Luke 13:34. In
another passage, the Lord likens Himself to an eagle—yet in the same
sense of guarding and holding us close to Himself, as though the eagle
were a mother hen! "Ye
have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles'
Wings and brought you to Myself." Exodus 19:4. "This
recalls to mind, a parallel passage: "The
eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting
arms." Deuteronomy 33:27. What other symbol did God use to represent the relationship He sustains toward us?The
God of heaven bends low and tells us—who are so far inferior to Him—that He will be our Father, and accept us as His sons and daughters!
Wonder of wonders, that God would accept us as part of His family! Here
are several sample statements: "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:7. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." Malachi 3:17.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew Him not." l John 3:1. "Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be;
but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall
see Him as He is." l John 3:2. "He
that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he
shall be My son." Revelation 21:7. "The
infinite God, said Jesus, makes it your privilege to approach Him by the
name of Father. Understand all that this implies." Thoughts From
the Mount of Blessing. 105. "
'I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my
sons and daughters. .' What a promise is here made upon condition of
obedience! . . He promises to be a Father unto you. Oh, what a
relationship is this! higher and holier than any earthly tie . . God
adopts you into His family; you become members of the royal household,
sons and daughters of the King who rules in the heaven of heavens." Sons and Daughters of God, 14. But
there are responsibilities on our part that accompany such a relationship. "Divine
sonship is not something that we gain of ourselves. Only to those who
receive Christ as their Saviour is given the power to become sons and
daughters of God. The sinner cannot, by any power of his own, rid himself
of sin. For the accomplishment of this result, he must look to a higher
Power." Sons and Daughters of God, 12. "In
order to become the sons and daughters of God, we must separate from the
world. 'Come out from among them, and be ye separate,' the Lord says. 'and
I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters.'
" Sons and Daughters of God, 8. Although
it is an excellent symbol of how we relate to God, yet the Father-son
(daughter) relationship is inadequate for showing the crucial dependence
which you and I must sustain to God every day, in order to avoid the
devil, that roaring lion who is constantly going about seeking to devour
us. One more illustration is needed. What is that special symbol which God
uses to portray the extremely close relationship, which we must
intelligently maintain daily, hourly? “And
Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them.
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as
little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. "Whosoever
shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the
kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:2-4. This
concept is repeated, in similar language, in several other 'Passages. We
will quote them later in this study.. There
can be no question that this symbol is used to specifically describe the
relationship we ought to maintain toward our heavenly Father. The
vine clings, but does not know what it is clinging to. It knows nothing
about the vinedresser who cares for it. The sheep has a limited
understanding of its need to remain close to the shepherd. Older youths in
the home may be rather independent. But the small child is well aware of
the situation; and, while able to choose otherwise—when properly
trained, he is extremely submissive and obedient to its parent. Here
are several sample quotations: "Like
as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." Psalm 103: 13. "It
shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are
not My people, there shall they be called the children of the living
God." Romans 9:26. “And
if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. If so
be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." Romans 8: 17. "The
creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the children of God." Romans 8:21. "Ye
are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is
He that is in you, than he that is in the world." l John 4:4. In
a sense, by creation, everyone in the world is God's child. But, in
reality, the experience is only entered—as we choose to enter and maintain
it. Our heavenly Father always stands ready, waiting. It is our decision
whether we shall be, in the fuller sense, His little children. The
following statements reveal conditions to being the children of God: "The
great God, whose glory shines from the heavens, and whose divine hand
upholds millions of worlds, is our Father. We have only to love Him,
trust in Him, as little children in faith and confidence, and He will
accept us as His sons and daughters, and we shall be heirs to all the
inexpressible glory of the eternal world. All the meek will He guide in
judgment, the meek will He teach His way. If we will walk in obedience
to His will, learn cheerfully and diligently the lessons of His
providence, by and by He will say: Child, come home to the heavenly mansions
I have prepared for you." 4 Testimonies, 653. "Let
us trust fully, humbly, unselfishly, in God. We are His little children,
and thus He deals with us. When we draw near to Him, He mercifully
preserves us from the assaults of the enemy. Never will He betray one who
trusts in Him as a child trusts in its parents. He sees the humble,
trusting souls drawing near to Him, and in pity and love He draws near to
them, and lifts up for them a standard against the enemy." Our
High Calling, 85, "When
the children of God are struggling with temptation, battling against the
passions of the natural heart, faith connects the soul with the only One
who can give help, and they are overcomers." Testimonies to
Ministers, 161, "In
order to walk without fear, you must know that your hand is firmly held by
the hand of Christ. You must not for a moment think there is no danger for
you. The wisest make mistakes. The strongest sometimes falter." 2
Selected Messages, 169. Yes,
there are conditions. No one floats down the river into heaven. We must do
our part. It is an hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment matter. "Obedience
and submission to God's requirements are the conditions given by the
inspired apostle by which we become children of God, members of the royal
family." 3 Testimonies, 365. "God
proposes to accept you as His child and make you a member of the royal
family, a child of the heavenly King, upon conditions that you come out
from the world and be separate and touch not the unclean thing. The
Monarch of heaven would have you possess and enjoy all that can ennoble,
expand, and exalt your being and fit you to dwell with Him forever, your
existence measuring with the life of God." 3 Testimonies, 458. "We
cannot be half the Lord's and half the world's. We are not God's children
unless we are such entirely." Steps to Christ, 44. "The
children of God are those who are partakers of His nature. It is not
earthly rank, nor birth, nor nationality, nor religious privilege, which
proves that we are members of the family of God; it is love, a love that
embraces all humanity. Even sinners whose hearts are not utterly closed to
God's Spirit, will respond to kindness; while they may give hate for hate,
they will also give love for love. But it is only the Spirit of God that
gives love for hatred. To be kind to the unthankful and to the evil, to do
good hoping for nothing again, is the insignia of the royalty of heaven,
the sure token by which the children of the Highest reveal their high estate."
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 75. "His
children must follow where He has led the way; at whatever sacrifice of
ease or selfish indulgence, at whatever cost of labor or suffering, they
must maintain a constant battle with self." Gospel Workers, 135. "Our
only safety is in constant distrust of self, and dependence on Christ." Christ's Object Lessons, 155. Additional
symbols of the closeness of this relationship, which we may have with God,
will be found in a later chapter in this book. Children
of the Father
Narrowing
down the symbolism. This child—parent relationship is a special kind of
experience, The lives of many children do not provide suitable examples
of the unique relationship which you and I want to sustain toward our God.
So let us narrow the scope of what we have in mind:
It is not a baby—parent relationship. We are not abject, helpless
creatures in a crib. We are, at all times, able to totally reject God's
leading and even His parental status. We have thinking minds beyond
that of an infant.
It is not childishness. Childishness is selfishness, acting
independently for selfish ends. It is a self-centered attempt to either
control the parent or rebel against that authority.
It is not the increasing, normal independence we find in a youth. Not
even worthwhile growth in self-reliance, in children is a fitting example
of the relationship God wants us to enter with Him. Here on earth, as he
matures, the child can do more things independently of his parents. That
is normal. But, in our Christian walk, our experience is to be different.
(Of the two sons in the parable, neither one provided a really good
example. See Matthew 21:28-31.)
We must not mistake the relationship we are seeking for a teenager-parent
relationship. That is not what it is. By the teen years, the youth is
growing into adulthood, and doing many things without the direct say-so of
his parents. To some extent, he needs these opportunities to meet the
tests of life—and strengthen his ability to independently reject the
perils of worldliness and choose the standards and faith of his parents.
But our experience is to be a different kind of growth. What
kind of growth? Many believers imagine that Christianity is a growing up
experience. It very definitely is a growing out of selfishness into
unselfish living for others. Yet, in regard to our personal relationship
with God, we grow into Him, not out of Him. The dependence deepens; it
does not lessen. Some
think that "imparted righteousness" enables them to become more
capable, as they increase in "spiritual maturity" and become better
able, by themselves, to decide for the right from force of habit and
bestowed righteousness. They begin to think that they do not need God's
constant help as much.
This is an error. Years of doing the right may, indeed, have leaned some
of the neuron paths in your brain toward better choices—but do not count on
it! You can suddenly fall—fast. God's plan for your life is that you are
to be His little child throughout your earthly life on earth! In relation
to your Father, you will never grow up into a capable, independent adult
son or daughter. Although there is growth in grace, you will never even
begin to reach that point where you can act independently of your kind
Father! None
of the angels in heaven act independently of God. They are all His
little children, loved and constantly guided by Him. So with all the
beings on the other planets. Every creature, animate and inanimate, lives
by submission to God. Only on Planet Earth do we find rebellion. Only here
do we find the glorifying of independence. Unfortunately,
down here, there are people who want an experience above that of the
angels of heaven! But
this does not mean that we are not to think. In relation to Him, we are in
total submission; yet, even when closest to Him, we have the greatest
freedom to think and act in right lines, stand for the right, and defend
and promote the cause of God. Our minds are liberated to expand and use
their full powers when we are in a child—parent relationship to God. What
then is this special relationship like? It is the attitude of a loving,
trustful, submissive four or five-year-old toward his always good,
wise, and very capable Father. This child shares everything with his
father; and, if he finds he has started to forget Him, he runs back to His
side. The child does this because he loves his father with deepest love
and wants to ever be near Him. He not only wants to be with his parent
in time of danger; he wants to be with Him all the time. Obviously,
it would not be best for a normal child, here on earth, as he matures to
think he must constantly be with his earthly parent! But our relation to
our heavenly Father is distinctly different in this respect. It will ever
be one of utter dependence. And the greater our sense of dependency, the
happier the experience, the fuller our life, and the better guidance and
protection that will be ours. This
sense of connectedness has another helpful effect: Aside from your morning
and evening worship time with God, your ongoing love for Him makes you
want to pause and read more in the Bible and/or Spirit of Prophecy, during
breaks here and there through the day, than you otherwise would do.
Because you love Him, you love His words to you. You love to stop and
read, even a paragraph now and then, as you have opportunity. Entering
the child—parent relationship deepens your interest in spiritual things.
Of course, this would be so, for we are not discussing an observer,
hearer, or professor Christianity.—It is the real thing; so real, so
natural, that your loved ones will notice the change—even though they
may not admit it and may resist the hallowed influences of God's Spirit
for a lengthy period of time. It makes you a sweet, kind person. The
only safe, worthwhile relationship we dare sustain toward God is that of a
small child. Several months ago, a friend was visiting at the same time
that my daughter Ruth and her two children stopped by. As we were sitting
there, Ruth went from one couch, where one son was, to the other to
momentarily care for the older one. At this, the younger one (which was at
that stage where he needed to be with his mother all the time) cried,
climbed down off couch, and crawled crying over to his mother. He was,
literally, in an agony of concern lest he not reach her. As
he crawled across the floor, I spoke to our visitor, "This is
righteousness by faith." Clinging to her leg as though an imaginary
ocean might somehow wash him away, he climbed to his feet while he clung
tightly to her. Only then could he begin to have peace of heart. All the
while, happily, she had been speaking lovingly to him. Yet kind words were
not sufficient; he had to be right there with her. This
is the child—parent relationship we are talking about. When a young man
asked Socrates, how he could get wisdom, Socrates is said to have pushed
his head into a bucket of water and held it there awhile. When the young
man finally came up sputtering and gasping, Socrates said, "When you
want wisdom as much as you want air, you will find it." When
you and I want God as much as that small child wanted his mother, we will
have an abundance of Him in our lives. This
child—parent relationship is a living experience, which makes you a son or
daughter of the God of heaven! What a noble bloodline to be a member of!
How would you like to be the son of Sam Walton or Bill Gates? God offers
you something better: sonship/daughtership to the King of the universe and
joint heirship to the planet! In
this experience, you love Him, trust Him implicitly, and obey Him promptly
and happily. You come to Him with all your problems, trials, questions,
hurdles, challenges, disappointments, pains, and hurts. Indicative
of how genuine is the experience, you spend a sizeable amount of your
"together time" sharing your joys with Him and praising Him for
His goodness and all the blessings you have. You are not just asking for
something! You love to just be with Him! As
you have opportunity, you talk to Him throughout the day. No longer do you
wonder what that verse about "pray without ceasing" means (1
Thessalonians 5:17). You are experiencing it—not as a routine or
form, but as part of a happy time with your Best Friend, your Lord and
your God. It is a sweet, peaceful, happy relationship, even though
others may be trying to cause you grief. As did David, when his men considered
stoning him (1 Samuel 30:6), you encourage yourself in the Lord and are
prepared for whatever may happen. This
is not just dry talk; I am telling you of an experience I have come upon,
one which is superior to any other pattern of "Christian living." Do
not imagine that, just because you have entered upon this relationship,
that you are certain to remain in it very long. The Lord does not blot out
your thinking, deciding mechanism. The choice is ever yours, and that is
where the problem lies. It is so easy for Satan to draw us away to
neglect, depression, unbelief, fearfulness, worry, overeating, pride,
envy, anger, intemperance, or indulgence in wrongdoing on a variety of
levels. A bad diet and inadequate rest does not help the situation. Meat
eating, gluttony, staying up late at night; there are so many factors
which can cloud the mind and keep souls from God. Thus
we have the choice continually with us. We also have the Bible and Spirit
of Prophecy to point us in the right direction. God has given us standards
to protect us. The
secret is, in His strength, to put all those bad things away—and
quietly, humbly, enjoy the ongoing walk with Him. There is great strength
in clinging to Him! A
crucial requirement for maintaining the relationship is spending some time
every day reading in God's Inspired Books! The audible part of much of
your daily walk with God consists of your words and thoughts toward Him.
It is when you sit down with His Word, that you receive a great deal of
instruction and comfort from Him. Give up the idea and shut this book, if
you have no intention to read the Bible and/or Spirit of Prophecy every
day. A one-sided conversation will not work. Each
one reading this has had times when, as a pleading child, he has sought
the Lord—yet it has generally been only when a serious problem exists.
We are so accustomed to entering this child—parent relationship only
when we want something or when we have a problem, that it never occurred
to some that God wants us to maintain such a close relationship all the
time. We thought that, like some small children, we only sought Him out
when we wanted candy or protection from a bully. The rest of the time we
ought to be free to grow up like Topsy. Yet the child of God who maintains the closest walk is the one who does so because he truly loves God—for what God is, regardless of presents He might bestow. He wants to be with his Father all the time! What
do you think of the child who is only nice to his parents when he wants
something from them? You will reply. "He is selfish and probably
does not respect them very much." That is true. You and I want to
live above that. The best experience is one that is filled with thankfulness.
When you are with God because you want to be with Him, you will find
that many of your conversations consist of praise to Him. Soon it becomes
an atmosphere of praise, rejoicing, thankfulness, and singing. For
the loving child of God, all the evidences of God's care provide much to
think about and talk to Father about. Thankfulness and praise go together,
and there is plenty of both in this special experience. But, of course,
there is much pleading for guidance, strength, and help. We live in an
alien world. In
this relationship, there are things you do for your heavenly Father which
you would not do for an earthly parent. First,
you are frequently expressing praise to your Father. Although we should
thank others for what they do, praise (which is different) always
injures them. Yet we can praise our heavenly Father all we want, and we
are blessed all the more for having done so. It deepens the relationship,
as it quickens our thoughts to how truly wonderful He is. When you praise
God, you are telling the truth; it is not flattery. Second,
you worship and adore Him as your Creator, your Saviour, and your God. We
may deeply appreciate our earthly parents, but we are not to worship them. Third,
you are continually seeing evidences in the world about you of His
tremendous care, love and power. Praise also includes seeing in everything
around you subject matter for wonder at His goodness, thankfulness for
His providential mercies, and marvel at His creative power. You have a
most wonderful Father, and you love Him all the more because of it. Our
earthly parents may be fine, but our heavenly Father is the provider of
everything good in the universe! This
experience is a marvelous simplifier of life's problems. Every day we
encounter situations which we can work through with our Father's help.
Here are twelve ways this close walk will help you all day long:
Each morning as you arise, you begin talking to Him, expressing your love,
and asking the question. "What do You want me to do today?"
Happy in His presence, you start the day with Him. (You
may prefer to say, "What dost Thou want me to do?" Because there
is a lot of such conversation, the author varies back and forth between
both forms. The Thou form is more reverential; He is our God. The You form
is more personal; He is our closest Companion. When the conversations are
frequent enough, it is easy to forget the more reverential form.)
If you run into a problem, you cry to Him, "Father, what do You want
me to do?" "Father, take care of this problem; I know You will.
Tell me whatever You want me to do."
if there is something to be done, you say. "How do I do this?"
"Please, help me do it—and in the right way," and then you set
to work. The task may appear difficult, but ways will open so it can be
dealt with. Thoughtfully read COL 354.
if nothing can be done about the problem, perhaps it is a wall
confronting you. Then you patiently await the unfolding of events. In His
time, the Father will tell you what to do or arrange circumstances to
solve it for you. Clinging to Him, you are always safe. The
present writer has consistently found that the more he spends his time
working for the Lord—and doing His work,—the less problems he has
to divert his attention. When they come, they have a way of dissolving
over a period of time. Put God first in your life, and He will work out
the details.
You meet someone you could talk to about Christ. How should you approach
him? You send up a prayer to your kind Father, "What should I
say?" And the words are given you. Yet,
even in the midst of guidance, we can still err. We are not infallible;
only God's Word is. Seeing our mistakes, we sense our utter weakness and
run back to Father—and, frankly, snuggle the more closely into His
arms. You recall how you loved to do it with your parents, when you were
very little. Do it again now. Be little again. (You really are.) Father is
waiting for you. We know we are safe when we are with Him.—If it is all
right for a sheep to be in the arms of Jesus, it is all right for you and
me! We are His little children. Such
experiences we all can have. The Lord is not slack concerning His
promises. He wants to help His earthly children.
You learn of someone needing help. How should you best go about giving it
to him? Talk it over with your ever—kind Father. He will guide you as to
the best way to go about doing it, and help you with your words.
When tempted to enter upon a wrong course of action, you are so thankful
that God is near. You ask Him for help and He grants it. "Help me.
Father; do not let me dishonor Thee!"
When you sense that discouragement is near, then it is time to do as
David. Comfort yourself in the Lord. Rejoice, I say, rejoice! Praise God
and sing a sweet song, such as Sweet Hour of Prayer, Just as I Am, or
Holy, Holy, Holy. The angels draw near and the devil's clouds vaporize. However,
when negative thoughts begin to buffet you, do more than pray! Think. What
have you been doing wrong? You may find that you over-ate that day or you
did something else, which weakened your hold on God or diverted your
attention. Perhaps you were unkind to someone, and that opened the door
for the devil to tempt you with discouragement. If
we want Jesus to do His part, we must cooperate. We must be kind and live
temperately, so we will remain close to Him. Know
that recalling God's blessings, showered on you continually, and
praising Him for them—wafts away the dark clouds.
When you have been hurt by another, run to Father. Tell Him all about it.
Pray for the one who was unkind, and frequently you may find that
situations soon improve. The Lord can move on hearts.
In time of physical injury or sickness, God is still near, ready to
comfort and help. He is the Healer, the only Healer. How frequently we
hear of individuals who were guided to a natural remedy, which helped
them.
Amid the great trials, if you truly love your Father for Himself and not
for His presents, you will say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust
in Him" (Job 13:15). That is a magnificent statement, and the motto
of those closest to their kind Father. They have learned to trust Him, and
are not worried. Whatever the situation, whatever the problem, they know
their kind Father can bring solutions. Patience in suffering is needed.
Those times come to all of us. They came to Elijah, Paul. Ellen White, and
Jesus. They have, and will continue, to come to you.
You may have questions about the future. Whatever they may be, when you
are in Christ they are solved. Philosophers
say there are three great questions of life: Where did we come from? Why
are we here? Where are we going? In God's Word and in a personal walk with
Him, all three are solved! As God's little child, you understand origins
and that you are here to live for Him. And you know where you are going! Yes,
besides the thankfulness and requests, living with your Father involves a
lot of questions. This list will afford you a better understanding of how
practical the relationship is: What
should I do next? Should
I do it? Where
do I begin? When
should I stop and rest? What
is the right thing to do? Who
needs my help? How
can I best help them? What
should I say? Where
can I find it in the Books? How
long should I stay? Where
should I go next? It
needs to be said again: Do not imagine that, having entered this
experience, it will automatically continue. It is not like a windup clock. Walking
with God (and that is what we are talking about. when we speak of a
child—parent relationship) is like growing a plant. It takes building the
soil, careful watering, the right amount of pruning and weeding, the
proper amount of sunlight. We must do our part each day to maintain the
presence of our heavenly Father. Anything
worth having is worth working for. Keeping this ongoing life with Father
is worth all the attention you give it. It
is not an experience to be neglected or ignored. It can easily be lost.
It will easily be lost if you do not value it enough to keep clinging to
God! YOU are the key person here. It is your decision, today. tomorrow,
every day which will decide to what extent this happy walk will
continue. There will be times when, for awhile, you will be busy with your
duties. But if, while you are going about your work. this happens, do not
count it a sin. Just run back to Him. He is your understanding Father, and
does not want you to feel under condemnation. Keep pushing the relationship.
In a sense, you must lead out. Christ has described Himself as knocking at
the door (Revelation 3:20). He does not open it; you do. (In
reality, He is leading out; for, without the help of the angels and the
Holy Spirit, you would not have the slightest inclination to depart from
the chains Satan wishes to bind you with.) When
you need help, cry for it. But when you do not need help, just rest in the
knowledge that you are with Him—let a sweet sense of peace fill your
heart that He is there with you. You
will find that, even when you plead for help, a brief pause of thoughtful
waiting will bring renewed assurance into your heart that He is going to
work everything out for the best. He
is not like people on earth. He loves you and means best for you. Your
loving Father is ever watching over you, guarding you, trying to save you
from yourself. Have
happy times with Him. Walking with God is a sweet experience. Keep
noticing things to thank Him for. If no one is around, audibly thank Him.
When you see an interesting little bug on the grass or a beautiful
butterfly nearby, laugh and say, "Oh, how wonderful; thank you
Father!" Enjoy life with Him. It will make a world of difference if
your walk with Him is joyous or just droopy and sad. He means for you to
be happy with Him. Christianity is not sighs and strictures. It is
happiness in the presence of your God. That is the way it will be
throughout eternity. Let heaven begin here. It
is a remarkable fact that there can be such happiness amid such obedience
and submission. But that is the way God's plan for you will be—If you
will but accept it day by day. There
are special times in the day when you can do the most sharing with your Father.
What would these be? Here are some examples: Your
thoughts turn to Him as you arise, and the conversing begins— As
you do your morning preparations before breakfast and worship time.
Throughout the day when you are alone with Him. When you are walking. When
you are sitting. When are driving down the road. When you are walking or
working outside. When you are relaxing between tasks. When you are
sitting, standing, and doing something. When you are with someone else and
there is not much conversation. When you are with someone and there is
conversation—and you need to know what to say to that person. When you
have a problem. When you do not have a problem. When you are struggling
with a difficult situation, load, or perplexity. When you are confronted
with a crisis—financial, relationship, employment, housing, or
otherwise. When you have no problems at all, and are quite happy about how
everything is going. The
above paragraph illustrates that there are many times every day when there
are opportunities to commune with God, as a little child with His
parent. Is there a time when it is inappropriate to talk with Him? Even
in the middle of a conversation with another person, you can do it!
Nehemiah did so (Nehemiah 2:3-6). "We
may speak with Jesus as we walk by the way, and He says, I am at thy right
hand. We may commune with God in our hearts; we may walk in companionship
with Christ. When engaged in our daily labor, we may breathe out our
heart's desire, inaudible to any human ear; but that word cannot die away
into silence, nor can it be lost. Nothing can drown the soul's desire. It
rises above the din of the street, above the noise of machinery. It is God
to whom we are speaking, and our prayer is heard." Gospel
Workers. 258. Try
talking to someone while praying to God at the same time. You will find it
is easy to do. As
you have opportunity, sing songs to Him and about Him. He loves to hear
your little praises and expressions of appreciation and happiness. You are
His beloved child! Rejoice in the fact. Your squeaky voice is heard in
heaven, and angels join in the song. Keep
fresh in your thoughts how wonderful God is, and how good He is to you
and all the world—in divine care, providences, the created things
which provide us with food, shelter, the beautiful things of nature, in
the structure and function of our bodies, in the stars overhead, and in
everything that exists which Satan has not tainted. Do
not feel you may be selfish in taking time with God, when there is so much
else to do. This is the reason for which you were created. It is the basis
of your existence. It is the way you are to live through all eternity. In
addition, the closer your walk with God, the more you will be able to help
others. Your very presence, words, and prayers lift and point them in the
right direction. Father will guide with the right words at the right time.
He will help you to be a far greater blessing—because you make sure He
is with you wherever you go—than you could accomplish by "working
for Him" at a distance. |
