Here in the heart of a powerful holiday season is the greatest showing of humans wanting to worship, believe, or acknowledge God. Obviously, holidays exist in many religions and even governments, and are also not just about God. Holidays are the altars of men, raising up a person, a religion, a memory, an activity, an occurrence, or a god--for a day. These holidays represent remembering, honoring, or hoping, but do no more than that. Religious holidays especially reveal a void in human nature that demands an attempt to fill. We can’t help that. But there is a real problem with humans and their concept of a deity. As much as many “dream” of talking to God face-to-face, it usually isn’t deemed as possible or acceptable. Is it inappropriate for God to move in closely, to dwell in society? Can He step down from the pedestal? Should He?
Speaking with respect and awe of our Creator, I nonetheless declare what I have seen. By our nature, experience, and history, we have established criteria for Godship: God is unapproachable and revered from afar, demanding obedience to whatever his supposed representatives say. This entity requires a lifetime to pass for access. He may require blood, and fear of eternal torture motivates the followers to throw off being comfortable in their skin. Words of love are overtaken by actions speaking otherwise, permanently corrupting the view of the deity believed in. The reality of kindness, mercy, love and compassion is far removed from religion when its advocates kill, threaten, and manipulate. These are fatal flaws that are denied as being such. And never mind that most humans surpass the potential for love that the hateful gods they believe in fail to deliver. (Where did that great propensity to love come from?)
Among the vast majority of mankind, in spite of all the hope and expectation, there isn’t a desire for God to dwell WITH us. Oh no. He must stay in his place as an assurance for the afterlife. And, of course, there are the warm fuzzies from contemplations of a God in heaven, heaven being off somewhere in time and space. Distance and “later”. No here and now.
If God walked among us hidden in a body, or duplicated in many bodies (the Holy Spirit), wouldn’t He be incorporated into society? Would He have a Facebook account? Would he send e-mails and texts? Would he make conversation with us at the market? Is that thought blasphemous? Only to our understanding of the true nature of Jesus Christ, the REAL God. He walked among mankind, and it was the Father's idea. His death enabled a multiplication of that miracle, offering himself as the Comforter--to all! Yes, God lives and moves in society, for His dwelling place is US. The temple is empty, the mountain is silent, and the Son of God lives humbly in the heart and soul of mankind. He is with us. And it can seem lackluster, I know.
For all too many, fire on the mountain would be preferred to no outwardly superior showing at all! Lacking a sensational presence has caused those with hope in their hearts to fall short of believing--period. And what is the main enemy of that hope? Brainwashing from religion, which is man-made. If all religions were to disappear overnight, God would still be here--if God is real. But the “created” deities would be gone. Unfortunately, fear would cause hearts to fail and people would languish, for they have a greater belief in religion than in a REAL God who actually loves and walks among them, ready to be received.
Thankfully, in all of this God is sovereign, and in the know. I feel it in my being as a deep ache, a longing for recognition and acceptance. The Creator walks out WITH us His own terms of conciliation to restore harmony to the confused, driven carnal nature. He offers Himself as the remedy and the solution, ongoing and active. The Kingdom of Heaven is within us. Jesus said so. He also said it comes without observation. Its structure cannot be seen. But WE can be seen. We are the abode of God. Through us, in our bodies, He lives and rules. Consequently, with and AS God, we can speak on social media and shop for groceries, all the while demonstrating a higher perspective from a greater source of love.
