To Commune With Our Creator
To commune. When I first heard someone talk about "communing with God," I don't think I fully grasped what they meant. Yeahhh, I spent time talking to God or reading an encouraging scripture here and there, but- what does this communing with God really look like?
Dictionary.com defines commune as "to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity, intimacy, etc; interchange thoughts or feelings. To be in intimate communication or rapport."
For most of my life I identified myself as a Christian, who at times prayed when I found it to be necessary. So my relationship with the Lord looked pretty different than how Dictionary.com breaks down what it means to commune with someone. And boy, was I missing out on a deep and transforming relationship. Which at the time- I did not realize cost so much to be given to me.
I knew that Christ died for me but I lacked to understand how valuable and precious this gift was. Think of it- OUR sin separated us from God, BUT Jesus went OUT OF HIS WAY just so that we could be brought back to what He first intended for us. A beautiful, all-consuming and fulfilling relationship with our Creator.
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.” Romans 5:8-10 (NLT)
Now, this relationship that Christ gave himself up for was not just meant for us to say quick prayers to God when we think it’s necessary. But Christ died in our place so that we could abide in Him and have true life. So that we could walk with the Lord through every moment of every day. With “intimate communication” as Dictionary.com defines communing. A “profound intense” relationship with the Lord which would transform us and lead us to live out our lives for our Creator.
Before deciding to truly live my life for the Lord, I took for granted the available relationship I could have pursued every day. I looked to other earthly relationships for advice instead of setting aside time to be alone with God first. It was much easier for me to run to a human than it was to run to the Lord. As I lacked to commune with the Lord, I saw myself looking to fulfill my own plans instead of eagerly submitting to God’s.
It’s almost comical when humans think they have a better plan than the One who created the universe and every human within it. I think we forget or even become confused on who God is and why we exist. God makes it plain in Isaiah 43:7 (ESV), “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
We exist because He brought us into existence. Every purpose we have was crafted by Him, for His glory alone. Why should we go through life missing out on and misunderstanding what we were created for? If we seek for fulfillment of our purpose in anything else than in and for our God, we will fail ourselves.
A relationship with our Creator is the most important relationship we can ever have. For He knows everything about us and still loves us (please reflect upon Psalm 139). He will go before us, guide us, and take care of us as we depend upon Him. By Christ’s accomplishment, we now have the opportunity to live a life that we were created for. One that is rooted in relationship with Him (by communing) and one that revolves around Him and His plans. Not the other way around.
Christ did away with the separation from God that our sin created. He came to earth and took our place on the cross so that we could come close to Him. We now can now draw near to Him in thanks and in worship (James 4:8). We can approach Him with our concerns and seek His guidance which is in alignment with His word. Let’s draw near to the One who laid down His life for us- the one who loves us unconditionally. Let’s trust Him, allow Him to search our hearts, and submit fully to Him. As we are vulnerable to submit every worry, concern, and fear to Him, through the hope of the cross He provides His peace, comfort, and love. How fulfilling it is to commune with the Creator who created us to enjoy and to glorify Him! In Him we find true life and purpose.