Physical and spiritual life begins with God coming to us.
In the beginning God descended to the man he created to breathe life into his nostrils “and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). What happened afterward? Did God animate humans then leave never to return?
God continued descending to us—eating a meal with Abraham and Sarah, meeting Moses at the burning bush, and visiting Elijah on the mountain. The Son of God even took on a real human body from conception to infancy to adolescence to adulthood. In Christ, God came all the way down to us as a baby in a manger and a victim on a cross.
But even this wasn’t the end of God descending to humans because after Jesus ascended to heaven God sent his Spirit to indwell his people. Moreover, believers are still waiting for God to descend again when Jesus returns to gather his people.
What’s the point? Everything begins with God coming to us. Physical life, divine promises, salvation, the birth of the Church, the resurrection of the dead, the new creation—it all begins with God descending to us.
And if it all begins with God, it doesn’t begin with us. We can’t work ourselves up to God through prayer, study, or service. We can’t build a tower that reaches to heaven because the gap between us and God is too vast. We need God to descend to us.
The good news, the gospel, is that God has fully descended to us as one of us. When you are tempted to place yourself in the center of everything, allow your mind to be filled up with God’s descent to you. Before you even thought of God, he came to you as a baby in a manger. Before you prayed a single prayer, he came to you bleeding on a cross. And he is still coming to you with a desire to dine:
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)
He has arrived. He has bridged the infinite gap. All you have to do is open the door.
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia and the U.S. I am passionate about the Bible and Bible related topics. Check out my summary of the Bible here.
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Thanks Les for pointing this out. I think this is the first time I have seen this presented in this way anywhere. We just automatically assume that God wants us to do the “work” to obtain the promises and relationship he offers. That’s the way the world generally works, and our minds are preconditioned to interpret the Bible the same way. You have pointed out, correctly I believe, what the words are actually saying in a new light! I think the Apostle Paul would agree with you a 110%….He was working against God (not trying to follow Him as he imagined) when God spoke to him. I know you are not saying we should “just wait” for God to contact us. We should do everything we can to obey his commands and follow Him. We can only “do so much on our own” and 100% of that will never be enough because… God decides who and when he will directly communicate with. Probably many Christians feel rejected and anxious because they “haven’t received” an answer or direct word from God Himself. Will M
Will, I just realized that I wrote a very similar post 13 years ago so I have reworded this post. It must be an important topic for me. By the way, I think you know much more about me than I know about you. Feel free to send me an email sometime and share a bit about yourself – biblebridge@gmail.com.
Hey Les. Not much to brag about here…I have been struggling along the Pilgrims Progress Road now for over 80 years now. I am beginning to “feel” the end approaching as well as understanding as best I can with the brain God gave me. I was blessed to have been born into a loving Bible believing church going family and was taught we are saved by Jesus dying on the cross for us. It was always a little confusing
and the older I became and the more adverse influences I encountered (Liberal education..etc ) the worse it was. I received a Juris Doctorate from LSU in 1965 and
practiced law in New Orleans for about 20 years. I live in Biloxi Ms. now but plan to move back to Louisiana soon for total retirement. God has blessed me with generally
good health and I hope to live another few years with my wife of 50+ years Margaret
Maddox and two children Roxanne and Bryan in Louisiana. Les I now believe that we are not capable of reaching a level of understanding and knowledge that we desire
about creation and God. I think true reality is spiritual and our carnal understanding is
inadequate. I also believe the Creator of all intended for it to be the way it is for a good reason. That does not stop us from trying to understand as much as we can.
(this is why I enjoy your articles so much). There are very few unbiased researchers like you. Most are promoting their particular view as “Gods Truth” You really dig into the history and Bible verses to provide as much context as can be applied and give opposing views ample exposure. You are willing to talk about “elephants in the room”
other writers ignore. This is all we can do. I am not trying to denigrate people who only want to follow strong leaders and churches. That is what they choose and place their faith in and who are we to judge them? I do not. None of us know all about these Spiritual Truths. I choose to try to understand the Bible and history as best I can
because I believe that is all we will ever have in this life….and trust God and His promises for the rest. Please keep doing what you do. Best Regards Will Maddox
Thanks for sharing. It’s nice to learn more about you. Your thoughts remind me of the encouragement in Proverbs to “seek wisdom,” “seek understanding,” and yet “trust in the Lord.”