Life is full of Lessons

Life is full of lessons . . . many of them.  We experience trials while we learn our lessons. It may be that God seems distant, and at the end of our trial when we’ve learned our lesson, we believe God will draw near. Or God is silent, and we think that some break-through will beam like a light from us, making us worthy of God’s fellowship once again.  This thinking, like a child’s, has us at the center of God’s universe.  But as we grow in knowing Him we come to find that it is God who is at the center.  He doesn’t play a cat and mouse game with us, expecting our growing knowledge to help us anticipate Him. God actually desires to be with us.

God is light and pleased to dwell in us.  When we know more about Him and His ways, that knowledge does not equate to being like Him.  And this is the mistake we make; running after knowledge so as to be like God and be accepted by Him. All we learn at the end of our trials enlightens our minds, but does not necessarily change us.  That is why when we look in our mirrors we see our faces, but only in part; we know in part. (1 Cor 13:12).  Only God sees us fully, and only His love accepts us completely, even though we are not perfect.

Knowledge contrasts.  Eating the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil shows us the difference between good and evil. After Adam and Eve ate from it, they had knowledge of wrongdoing (Gen 3:6). But eating from this tree did not make them holy. During our trials, the lessons we learn about God’s ways contrasts what we see in ourselves.  But that knowledge does not change us into a godly person. Looking at sin, weakness and all our foolishness is not a gateway to holiness nor to fellowship with God.

Love brings us closer to God. Unconsciously, love navigates God’s ways with people, doing good and bringing peace.  Love bears good fruit and leaves lasting works.  Love is different than our own way and  invites us to follow it without scolding us. When God’s thoughts about loving others enter our spirit, our mind becomes fruitful and our lives become good. His thoughts are a contrast to ours, and yet He doesn’t reject us for not being like Him.  He loves to navigate love with us and delights in dwelling in us. 

Life is full of lessons, but knowledge is not the object of our lives.  Love is.  God loves us, and His love is the beginning of our love of others (1 Jn 4:19). Our love of others is one way in which we are like God.  “Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 Jn 4:8). Today, if you feel God is distant, or think He is silent, take heart.  He is with you. Let God walk with you and show you how to love like He does.  Then you will have fellowship with God and men.  Amen.