Intimacy with God
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." ~ James 4:8
Bear with me; this might sound strange, but let me explain.
The Bible states that Jesus is sufficient for everything we need. However, I often struggled with this belief because I felt there was something Jesus couldn't provide. I desired physical intimacy and felt that Christ couldn't fulfill that need because He wasn't physically present. It may seem odd, but I longed to be held, kissed, and caressed—things I couldn't ask of Christ. Even if I did, which would be inappropriate, it wouldn't be possible for Him to fulfill those needs. But if Christ is sufficient for everything, how do I reconcile this longing?
The lessons I learned:
First of all, I realized that my desire for physical intimacy stemmed from a selfish void within me.
Physical intimacy must be an expression of love—rather than an attempt to fulfill a desire.
God gave us the gift of each other so that we would fulfill these desires through each other. With the love that God has filled us with, we would pour it out upon each other and express it physically. And this was God's intention until we reached Heaven, where there would be no need for physical intimacy, at least not in a purely human sense.
I came to realize that in Heaven, there would be no kissing, holding, or even sex. God was clarifying that these physical expressions were not vital for our existence.
Secondly, I realized that God desires a deep intimacy with us that transcends the physical. The intimacy with God will be so immeasurable that physical intimacy will cease to exist within our desires in Heaven. But that doesn't mean we can only have this intimacy with Christ until we reach Heaven—we can experience it here and now!
And when we cultivate this intimacy with Jesus?
When we cultivate this intimacy in the present, any physical intimacy we engage in will be an expression of love—rather than a means to fulfill a longing desire. Our physical desires will no longer dictate our actions.
But how can we nurture this kind of intimacy with God now?
Many evenings, I find myself seated at our dining table, engrossed in heartfelt conversations with my daughter about her life. Once, during one of these discussions, she excused herself briefly to use the restroom. As I sat there, I couldn't help but reflect on the specialness of the moment. We had been sharing personal thoughts and feelings—and listening to each other. We were forging a connection that went beyond any other interaction possible. I was seeing my daughter in ways I had not seen before. And this moment was rich beyond all riches. I realized I didn't need physical intimacy with her to feel intimate with her. I understood this is the level of intimacy God desires from us.
God desires that we perceive Him and His love in every aspect of our existence. As we immerse ourselves in His word, we uncover the vastness and depth of His love for us. With each word we absorb from scripture, we feel His presence as if He were seated across the table, just like my daughter and I, for He is indeed present with us. God accompanies us everywhere we go, in every moment of our lives, desiring us to acknowledge this reality. Through every word He speaks to us, we glimpse deep into the depths of His heart.
When we observe creation, we should discern the handiwork of our masterful creator—recognizing how He chose us before the foundations of the world. Consider how God has orchestrated everything for our benefit. Above all else, God prioritizes us, even when we stand as His adversaries. He demonstrated this by offering His Son as the ultimate sacrifice. The Lord yearns for us to perceive Him so profoundly that we begin to see everything through His eyes.
Our families, friends, jobs, and talents are all gifts from God, demonstrating His unwavering love and care for us. He never abandons us, going to great lengths to establish a relationship with us. When God communicates with us, He desires that we perceive His love as if we were peering directly into His heart—because we are. It is through this perspective that we cultivate an intimate relationship with Him.