Daily Reading
How We Know God
January 5, 2025
Every courtship, at least every healthy one, is moving toward a deeper heart intimacy that is the ground for the consummation of the relationship spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Remember—the intimacy and adventure plays out differently for men and women, as reflected in what uniquely stirs our hearts. But the progression into deeper intimacy holds very similar stages.
The first question in the orthodox confessions of faith tests our awareness of this wonderful truth when it asks, “What is the chief end and purpose of man?” And the answer: “To know God and enjoy knowing him forever.” If we hear that answer as creatures of the Enlightenment, that is to say, the Age of Reason, the answer does not take our breath away. The word know has been captured in service of the intellect and so when we think of knowing God, images of learning more about him immediately come to mind. With a sigh, we consider what book we might buy or what Bible study we might attend to understand more clearly God’s attributes. But what if we were sitting in a sidewalk café overhearing the following exchange between a fiancée and her betrothed?
The first question in the orthodox confessions of faith tests our awareness of this wonderful truth when it asks, “What is the chief end and purpose of man?” And the answer: “To know God and enjoy knowing him forever.” If we hear that answer as creatures of the Enlightenment, that is to say, the Age of Reason, the answer does not take our breath away. The word know has been captured in service of the intellect and so when we think of knowing God, images of learning more about him immediately come to mind. With a sigh, we consider what book we might buy or what Bible study we might attend to understand more clearly God’s attributes. But what if we were sitting in a sidewalk café overhearing the following exchange between a fiancée and her betrothed?
She: I’m so looking forward to our wedding day. I do love you so much. I really wish I could see more of you. There’s so much about you I want to know better.
He: Yes, dear, I know. I’m going to send you a book that describes more about my life. I’m sure you’ll get a lot out of it.
She is somewhat disappointed.
She: I’ll be glad to read it. But I just want to hold your hand.
She continues somewhat mischievously.
She: I just want to kiss you.
He: I’m sure you do, Beloved. Let me send you a podcast describing the role of physical affection at different stages of courtship. You’ll find it worthwhile, I’m sure.
She: That’s wonderful, darling. It’s just that I so look forward to our wedding day. I want to be with you so badly. I think of us being, you know, “together,” day and night.
He: Yes, intimacy is important. I’d like to send you to a weekend seminar that really should be quite helpful.
He: Yes, dear, I know. I’m going to send you a book that describes more about my life. I’m sure you’ll get a lot out of it.
She is somewhat disappointed.
She: I’ll be glad to read it. But I just want to hold your hand.
She continues somewhat mischievously.
She: I just want to kiss you.
He: I’m sure you do, Beloved. Let me send you a podcast describing the role of physical affection at different stages of courtship. You’ll find it worthwhile, I’m sure.
She: That’s wonderful, darling. It’s just that I so look forward to our wedding day. I want to be with you so badly. I think of us being, you know, “together,” day and night.
He: Yes, intimacy is important. I’d like to send you to a weekend seminar that really should be quite helpful.
If I (Brent) were listening I’d be thinking, What a stiff. This guy doesn’t have a clue how to love this woman. Why doesn’t she dump him for somebody who’s still breathing? Yet, this is very much the way we often carry on our love affair with God. We picture him as being much like the man in the café, and so we sigh, try to push down our disappointment, and go on being good Christians.
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