God brought him outside……….part 5 - Abraham
Genesis 15:1”After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
Right from chapter twelve of Genesis, we read the phrase ‘the Lord said to Abram’ but it is the first time in chapter fifteen we read the words, ‘Abram said, "Lord GOD......!”’Here, Abraham starts a conversation with God and continues so steadfastly that God refers to Abraham as ‘HIS FRIEND.’ Beautiful! I wish I could pour out all that is bubbling in my heart!
Though born in a Christian home, I had never known Jesus in an intimate way, neither was I regular in church attendance or Bible reading; however, I have at times felt a deep need for a close relationship with God, which I never knew how to develop because I was attending a traditional Church at that time, which in fact further drove me away from God instead of getting me closer to Him; the old hymns and the stiff church services were boring and I never, ever enjoyed them. My first encounter with Jesus started while I was bedridden in the hospital, in a hopeless situation with multiple problems related to pregnancy. Well, it is during this time that I made a decision to read the Bible in a disciplined way; the very first chapter of Genesis touched and jolted me – I realized I serve a Mighty God, the maker of Heaven and Universe. Amen. I was rapidly reading the Bible in jet speed oblivious to the pain and uncertainty that surrounded my health; slowly my faith started growing and God was doing mighty things inside my heart. Despite my health deteriorating, I stood firm in my faith, refused to stay in the hospital and came back home, much to the shock of my family, I further continued reading the Bible and the Lord did a mighty miracle through the birth of my son. Well, the greatest miracle was my passion for God! I started the day at 3 am speaking to Him closely and affectionately and poured out my heart at His Feet and later in the evening, I waited for my family to go to bed and then, I would stay awake in the night and commune with Him in the dark; even after several years, I am still fervently in love with Him. I have not been spared pain, disappointments, humiliation, failure and uncertainty, though; yet, I have held on to Him closely, hence I can say like Paul “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
When you start a close communication with God, He is faithful to carry it forward, look what God did: “He brought Abraham outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." God brought Abraham outside and asked him to look towards heaven; are you ready to come outside to be with God? Are you ready to come out of your sinful life to live with God? Are you ready to come out of the unrighteous business and live for God? Are you ready to come out of that bad company and be with God? You cannot have both, are you there? Friend, there are many out there who desire a close relationship with God, but yet are not willing to come out of their bed at 5 am in the morning. Are you there?
"Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still." E.M. Bounds
I end this series of the “spiritual battle faced by Abraham” with him overcoming the temptations and finally becoming a ‘Friend of God.’ Why don’t you too press forward to nuzzle closer to the Lord? God bless you!
