Our daily lives, our walk with God, our deepest and most encompassing of our thoughts and emotions dictates our progression. Life is a continuous, never ending ascension to what we seek; each decision is a step we take to reach the mountain top. Each of those steps is characterized by various challenges and experiences, as the path forward cannot always be seen. With fervor do we wish to complete our goal, uninhibited by the challenges we continue to reach the mountain top. However, in the walk of life, what awaits at the pinnacle?
What we seek is intimacy; it is the overarching principle in life and in the Word. It is the culmination of our sorrows, tears, trials, joy and happiness. We all have an innermost desire to be known, reflective of the creator’s desires, that in His image He made us. The drive for intimacy defines the basis for all relationships in life; it’s what we all seek, but seldom find.
For it is written:
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
“And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 38:23)
As evident from the above passages, God’s desire to be known manifests also in his actions. As we are made in His image, we too have a desire to be known. Through relationships, the vehicle for developing intimacy, we make ourselves known. Genesis 2:18 portrays this beautifully:
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
The innate drive for intimacy is exceedingly strong and critical to our wellbeing that the first instance of “not good” in the Bible results from man being alone.
God knows us fully and desires to be in close relationship with us. Through the core principles of love, faith and hope we engage in closeness that creates intimacy between us and the creator. These same principles also create closeness with our neighbors. Perhaps all relationships exist, such that, through those relationships we come to a greater understanding of God. God’s love is the action that enables us to be in a relationship with Him; through the washing away of our sins. As we enter a relationship with Him, through trials and obedience, we learn to trust him (faith). Our faith in Him then leads to hope, for we know deliverance is nigh. We come to understand that all circumstances in life exists solely for our benefit, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) As we love, trust and hope in God, we enter a closeness with God that satisfies all of our needs. This same model for building closeness with God also applies to all of our relationship. In order to build closeness with anyone, it is important that we love the person, trust them and delight in the hope that they act in our best interest.