January 4, 2023

An Eternal Relationship

“He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:2 (NASB)

I remember when I first was deployed to Germany in the U. S. Army. I was only 19 at the time and just married less than a week after being married. There wasn’t much time to build our relationship. I entered the Charleston Military Air Command base with people with familiar uniforms, but still felt surrounded by strangers. During that first two weeks in Germany in the barracks, I was alone. I don’t easily meet people. I was only allowed to make a phone call (long distance international) once every two weeks to my wife and family. I only received mail about once a week or so from my wife due to snail mail. I missed my relationship with my wife.

 There are times in our life where we are left to ourselves. Sometimes it is during a lonely moment, and others while we are sad. Other times we welcome the solitude from the hectic day-in-day out chaos. Imagine now a place where relationship is eternal. Before time existed, Jesus was with God, and then later He was with mankind. Imagine the change in His life leaving a perfect place with His Father and both existing in perfect relationship. Imagine, perfect harmony. Never alone. Being able to interact with your loved one at any time! This is a concept that Old Testament Jews were familiar as they heard the voice of God. We Christians have that constant relationship today with the Holy Spirit. God makes promises from His Word like:

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”[1]

Joshua 1:9 “…Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”[2]

Romans 8:39 “…nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[3]

Hebrews 13:5 “being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”[4]

 Relationships are a foreign concept to many people today. We have cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices which we substitute for relationship. I wonder often what would happen if we were to lose all those devices simultaneously? What would folks do? Would they have to begin talking to each other again? Would folks know how to develop a relationship?

 Today each of us who know Jesus as Savior have an immediate connection with God through the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to wonder if we go into a building that God won’t hear us unlike an electronic device. The only thing that blocks our “signal” with God is sin. Today, experience the relationship with God by confession of sin and connection in prayer and His Word. Then build that relationship that doesn’t look like snail mail, or every two week call. 

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Dt 31:8.

[2] Jos 1:9.

[3] Ro 8:39.

[4] Heb 13:5.