Take, for instance, the idea that faith and reason are incompatible bed fellows. The theologian, having gotten all wrapped up in some philosophy or other, may have you taking a 'leap' of faith, completely divorced from reason. And the so-called scientist, perhaps knowing nothing except rumors about faith, declares that reason will not permit faith, thus deceiving himself into thinking he has an excuse for not having faith. Oh, yes, I could keep up with their arguments, but I think all this takes up too much energy. I don't have that kind of time to waste. I'd rather be talking to the One who has all the answers.
The problem with all this hoity-toity intellectualizing is that it is an exhibition of man's wisdom, which isn't worth much. All true wisdom comes from God. And I, with childlike simplicity, prefer not to get bogged down in the weeds, so I just take Him at his Word when He says, "Come now, and let us reason together." One doesn't waste as much time that way.
I want to get about the business of getting to know Him - personally. If He wants to reason with me, I'm more than ready. The idea that the creator of the universe would deem to stoop to my level in order to reason with me is heady stuff. In fact, it's downright astonishing that He wants to communicate with me. I want to know everything about Him, and the quickest and surest way to learn is to spend time in His Word, the Bible. The more time we spend reading and meditating on His Word, the more He is willing to reveal Himself.
He wants us to understand him. He wants to share His heart with us. We are incredibly unique creatures, unlike the beasts or angels or anything else that He created. He created US for companionship. He wants to be my friend. Imagine it. Jesus said to his disciples, "Henceforth I call you not servants ... but friends." Abraham was called "the friend of God." I want to be His friend. To be the friend of God seems unimaginable, but there it is. How could anything be more important? Or more ... well, reasonable.
It turns out that He is my very best friend. Now that I'm retired, and my parents are gone, I spend as much time as possible with the Lord. We talk all day long. He's the only other one here at home. I have a relationship with him that not even the angels have. And the fact is, the angels are very intrigued and curious about my relationship with the Lord. They were created as sinless beings. They cannot possibly comprehend the depths of my gratitude for Jesus' shed blood as the sacrifice for my sin. That is the reason I love Him so.
He is the first person I talk to when something good happens. "Thank you, Lord." Or when something bad happens, but it could have been worse. He's the first one I talk to in the morning. When I sit in my family room and am almost finished with my morning devotions, and I see that sun come up over the horizon ... "Good morning, Lord. Thank you for that incredible sunrise, and that you led us up here to the top of this hill where I can enjoy the work on your canvas." He changed my life. Is that reason enough?
I can't think of anything more unreasonable than failing to take God up on such an offer.
And it just keeps on getting better and better. Not only am I His friend ... I'm ...
A Royal Heir
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