As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 42:1-2
The last few weeks have proved that there are certain things we can do without. Kebabs, Starbucks Coffee and Cadburys Dairy Milk are nice, but not essential! There is, however, one thing that no true child of God can do without, and that is God himself.
No human or created thing can do without God. He sustains all things, as John said “all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” It is utter folly to say that there is no God and it is the deepest of sin to take all that he has given for granted. All in the cosmos is totally dependent on God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and everyone one day will bow before him.
But the Christian cannot do without God in an even deeper way. They have experienced God and have tasted of his goodness and have been given a new heart that beats for only One. Their eyes and heart have been opened to see true reality and the amazing depth and beauty of the holiness, love and majesty of God. We may never know him fully, but we have eternity to plunge the depths – deep calls to deep as the Psalm goes on to say. Nothing else will ever satisfy, and God will not let one of his children walk away from him.
Are you thirsty?
Christian, you are in a relationship with the triune God! You have been chosen, redeemed and set on a path to glory by your Father. You have access to the very throne of heaven through the Lord Jesus Christ and you can speak to your maker through the Spirit. There is only One who can satisfy your thirst.
However, you feel today and whatever your circumstances, let us echo these words and let us pray for a deeper realisation and burden to know the living God. We cannot do without him.
Steffan Job (Capel y Ffynnon, Bangor)