Wide Open

In the last week, all of the conversations I've had with my friends have had a reoccurring theme.
I'm finding that most people, including myself, have a hard time understanding how God can be enough for them, how they can only be satisfied with friendships, relationships, marriages, parents, anything if they are satisfied with God.

Humans are naturally needy people. I remember one time, I was with a friend who said,
"I'm so glad to be out of that relationship. She was so needy."
Another one of my friends replied,
"Duh, we all are."

So true.

God intended for us to be infatuated with him. We've all seen that guy who literally chases after the girl of his dreams. The epitome of a tool.

David Crowder hit the nail on the head with his song "Obsession."

"What can i do with my obsession
With the things i cannot see
Is there madness in my being
Is it the wind that moves the trees?
Sometimes You're further than the moon
Sometimes You're closer than my skin
And You surround me like a winter fog
You've come and burned me with a kiss"

My good friend Jeffery agrees with me that no matter how near or far God may seem, he is always as close as our skin, burning with his love and infatuation for us. It is a love that can only be described divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love.

The word "Agape" means wide open, but it also refers to a Godly Love. God is in limitless, crazy, wide open love with us.

Whats our return? I find that most of the time I am so caught up in my love for yours truly that I can't even give God my attention.

But he still loves. He loves me "Wide Openly." His arms, stretched, nailed to a wooden cross beam, wide open. Every thought, every breath, every single ounce of strength was focused upon one thing. His bride, his love, his heartbeat... us.

We've heard every salvation talk, and then some. But what I must constantly paint in my mind, what I must try to understand, is God's love for you and me.

When I do, I always ask myself this question: "If I am not satisfied with Christ, how can I ever be satisfied with a wife, kids, a job, friends, possessions... anything?"

The answer is simple... I won't be satisfied.

I wonder how it is a man becomes obsessed with the Lord? Its rather simple, just look at John the Baptist. He spent his time prior to his ministry alone, in the wilderness. What he did, who knows. The author John Eldridge would probably speculate the he climbed mountains and played war, Rob Bell would probably say that he found truth, and everyone else probably has their theories about what Ol''e John did in the wilderness.

Heres what I think he did.

I think John woke up before the sunrise and watched the world wake up. I believe he listened to the crackle of a campfire, trying to hear some melodic tune. I see him swimming in a river, and then fishing on its shores. I wonder if he tried to count the stars. I believe he saw everything nature offered, and marveled in it.

He became infatuated with God. And then, he preached the word, preparing the way for the Messiah.

And that's what we have to do. We must explore the depths of God, we must take the time to slow down, and marvel in his creation, and then, we will find satisfaction in him. When we truly know who God is, and how God loves, then we will be able to know how to love him back. Its a true relationship.

In order for a husband to know his wife, he studies her, learning everything about her. He watches her ways, and then learns how to love her. Its not instantaneous, its takes years; a lifetime.

Our love, our desire for God takes time. But, if you set aside the time, to go into the wilderness, away from all the noise, all the distractions and from everyone, we will find our obsession, our focus. We can find God there.

And as we all know, that once you deeply fall in love with someone, you don't fall out.