By Tom Shanklin

Today, I want to talk to you about something this is at the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ-that is, knowing and experiencing the Lord on a daily basis.

In reality, all of us are seeking and hungering for fellowship with our Creator. We may not even realize it. We may be following after all kinds of substitutes, but down deep inside, as Augustine has said, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”

God created us in order to fellowship with us. We were made, the Bible tells us, in His image and likeness. Through sin, disobedience and rebellion, we lost this open relationship with the Creator God. Before the fall of man, God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. God spent time hanging out with the crown of His creation. Adam and Eve enjoyed God everyday!

This business of “enjoying God” should be our everyday employment. The Westminster catechism states that the chief end of man is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” We were created for God’s pleasure and, really, the highest and greatest pleasure that we could ever experience is just simply being in God’s presence.

The problem we have is that there is a separation between us and God. Our sins have separated us from a Holy, Awesome God. There is nothing we can do to bridge the gap and find restoration and healing in our relationship with our Creator. However, God in His mercy, sent Jesus for just that purpose, to become a sacrifice for our sins and to give us a second birth. Through Him and by receiving Him personally as Lord and Savior, our fellowship is restored and we can approach Almighty God without guilt or shame. We can enter into His gates with thanksgiving and praise.

This fellowship with God is not just a matter of the externals of religion, but it is personal. It’s spending time with God, waiting on Him, living in His presence. When Adam sinned, he lost his personal dignity, and he lost face with God. The Bible tells us that Adam and Eve hid themselves from the presence of the Lord. They could not longer look him in the eye.

When a friend who has betrayed you or stolen from you, he can no longer look you in the eye. He will avoid eye contact, because he is guilty. Likewise Adam could not stand to look into the searching eyes of His Creator.

Jesus came to change all that. . . to give us a clean slate. . . to reconcile us to God our Father. The spiritual barriers have been removed, the veil has been rent, the way has been made for us to fellowship and walk in the light of God’s glory. The blood of Jesus and his torn flesh have spiritually become the entryway for us into the very presence of Almighty God.

So, why should we be satisfied with the externals of religion-the do’s and the don’t and the traditions of man and all the rituals? Let’s go beyond all that into a personal loving relationship with our Lord in the Holy of Holies. As we look into the face of Jesus, as our spiritual eyes are opened, we will experience change in our lives. We will reflect the glory of His holiness. Jesus will become real to us and we will know Him with intimate knowledge.

Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus, following his dead religious tradition, zealous to destroy the new “evil” sect of believers in Jesus Christ. But then he met Jesus personally, and saw Him face to face. Two things happened that day-he recognized Jesus and he surrendered to Jesus. As a result, a new life began that day. Today can be your day to come face to face with Jesus Christ. Look Him in the eyes. Let Him search your heart. Turn from your sin. Receive Him as your Lord and enjoy Him forever. God bless you!