Drinking Deeply

" He is intimate with the upright." (Prov 3:32b NASU).

A few weeks ago, a dear friend left behind her copy of Og Mandino's "The Christ Commission" for me to read, and for the past 10 days, I have savored every word. The story is of a 20th century novelist who publicly challenges the notion of a resurrected redeemer and finds himself a time traveler, taken back to 1st century Jerusalem, just 6 years after the alleged resurrection of Christ. His wish has been fulfilled, and he is to be the one-man Christ Commission, interviewing all of the major players of the last few days of Jesus the Christ's earthly life, so that he can finally, conclusively, dis-prove the resurrection myth.

It has been my privilege to travel to the Holy Land on several occasions and so it was easy for me to picture the scenes depicted through the narrative. I could even smell the smells and hear the sounds of the ancient city, with carts clattering over cobble-stoned streets, and lamb roasting over open flame, pungent spices displayed in open bins, and merchants crying out for shoppers to buy their wares. Oh, how I love that old city! I get homesick just sharing it with you now!

I was fascinated with this fictional account of the last few days of Jesus' life, and as always, found myself looking back to Scripture to confirm whether some things were true, and nodding to remind myself that some were pure fiction. Good fiction, and certainly some of Mandino's imaginings are not too far off the mark, but fiction, nonetheless. I found myself lingering over conversations between the investigator, Matthias, and the followers of Jesus -- his brother James, John the beloved, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, Peter, the virgin Mary, and Mary of Magdalene. The depictions of some of them, particularly the Magdalene, disturbed me, but others touched my heart with that aching joy that helps me remember that there is so much more to know of Jesus.

Just before I began the book, I read an online devotional that highlighted the verse for today, concerning God's intimacy with the upright. So, as I read this story of the affection Jesus had for his disciples, and their obvious adoration of Him, those words were ringing loudly in my heart's ears. I so long to have that intimate fellowship with Him, to "know His love" and how "wide, long, high and deep" that love is, to catch more than just glimpses of the lavish love of God, and rest in the sufficiency of that love.

Why is it that we usually find it so hard to believe that the Father loves us so unreservedly? So completely? Is it because we have been so poorly loved? Is it because we are so well acquainted with our unworthiness? Is it because the enemy of our souls is very good at the work he does to steal and kill and destroy? What a shame that we allow human frailty and demonic deviance to keep us from the most solid promise ever given us -- that He has loved us with an everlasting love.

Why are we satisfied to linger on the fringes of that love when the invitation to intimacy, to plunging into the depths of His love, stands before us like the door to unending paradise? I have an ache in the depths of my being that nothing has satisfied. When I catch a glimpse, get a taste, of His love, I know that I am on the precipice of "being filled with the fullness of the Godhead."

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that "those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied." In other words, if we allow ourselves to be content with less than Him, then we will find ourselves literally starving to death. But if the hunger is ever deeper, the thirst never quenched, then we will be satisfied with more of Him. I don't know about you, but I'm parched and starving, too! Feed me, Lord Jesus. Fill me with the Water of Life!

"Water of Life, pour through me; fill me up; make me clean. Wash me in the fountain that never will run dry. Cover me completely with the Water of Life. " (Dave Clark & Mark Harris)

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you." Psalm 63:1-5