Teachings from Quest for God's Own Heart Ministry

God Created Mankind for Intimacy

God created mankind in a unique way. He did not create them to be just like the rest of His creation. He created them in His own image, giving them the ability to have an intimate relationship with Him and one another. However, being created in God’s image is more than just the ability to have a loving relationship with God and others. It also “…includes rationality (mind), the relationality of God, as exemplified in the relationship among the three persons of the Holy Trinity…” (Balswick & Balswick, p.p. 125-126). God has created a complete package with mankind. Having the ability to think through any situation that they may face, and the heart to know what is right from wrong is what God instilled upon every human being when He created them in His own image. Because of the ability to reason, mankind is able to not only understand intimacy, but also to enjoy and act upon a close relationship with God and others.

When God created Adam, He declared, “…‘it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him’” (Genesis 2:18, NLT). Though Adam’s intimacy with his Maker would have been fulfilling on its own, God wanted Adam to have someone he could share his life with on earth. When God created Eve, He gave both Adam and Eve a special gift. He united them as one; one in purpose and one in fellowship. Their union was sacred, a bond that was never to be broken. Together, Adam and Eve was complete. Together, they were able to enjoy a close relationship with God and one another. That is why when God saw them, He knew that what He had created was “very good” (Genesis 1:31, NLT).

Satan Thought He Succeeded in Destroying Mankind’s Intimacy with Their Creator

Watching from the crevices of Hell, Satan became angry because of God’s close relationship with Adam and Eve. Satan devised a plan to destroy their bond with their Maker, and with one another. Playing on Eve’s ability to reason, Satan persuaded her to take the fruit that God had forbidden, promising that she would have the ability to not only think like God, but to be like God. Just like Satan himself wanted to be God, Adam and Eve chose to break fellowship with their Maker, desiring instead to do things their way. They wanted to be their own god, making their own decisions. They used God’s special gift of reasoning to abandon Him. They decided they knew what was best for their lives, trusting in themselves rather than their Maker. Through their disobedience, Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened to their selfish desires, and they found themselves exposed and ashamed. Sin penetrated the world God had created, and the world has never been the same.

God’s desire for intimacy with His children, and their relationship with one another was now damaged. When God called Adam in the Garden after their disobedience, He knew where Adam was. God was reaching out to Adam, inviting him to walk with Him. God was inviting Adam to continue in their intimate relationship. In the Garden, God began the process of drawing all men to Him. Today, God is continuing to draw all men to Him through the work of the Holy Spirit (Clinton & Sibcy, Why You Do the Things You Do, p. 7).

When confronted, Adam and Eve did their best to shift blame for their actions. Adam blamed God, because He gave him Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. The same denial of responsibility has plagued mankind throughout its history, for it is easier to shift blame than to own up to one’s actions. There is no doubt that Satan played a part in their disobedience, but in the end, their desire to live their lives under their rules is what brought about their fall, not Satan. From the beginning, Satan desired “to destroy the intimacy of our relationship with God and our family and friends. He wants us to feel empty inside, desiring to fill the void due to our lack of intimacy with other things like work, play, entertainment, and other people” (Clinton & Sibcy, Why You Do the Things You Do, p. 7). Deceived by Satan and their desire to do things their way, Adam and Eve damaged the beautiful relationship they had with God and one another.

God reassured Adam and Eve of His love for them, but doubt of God’s love has continued to torment the soul of every human. Satan tries to destroy intimacy with God and others by instilling upon mankind doubt of God’s love for them. When someone doubts God’s love, he or she will have a distorted image of God. Kathryn Maris, in her poem, “God Loves You”, wrote “God's image was in the mirror and God's image was my grief. And lo, I knew I was not loved by Him and wept” (Winter, 2009/2010, p. 110). Satan has been successful in convincing mankind that God does not love them. Throughout the history of the earth, the search for the intimate love that was lost in the Garden has haunted mankind, but God prepared the way for their redemption. God declared to the serpent, “‘…I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel’” (Genesis 3:15, NLT). God’s love would not abandon Adam and Eve after their disobedience toward Him. Instead, His love provided a way for His redeeming grace.

God wants to restore and forgive His creation. Not only did He announce His redemptive plan in the Garden, but God also made a covenant with Abraham. God declared that His covenant had no conditions on His part (Genesis 12:1-3). The “[c]entral point of covenant is that it is an unconditional commitment, demonstrated supremely by God to the creation” (Balswick & Balswick, p. 8). The covenant on God’s part will not be broken. God wants His creation to experience the joy of knowing Him. He wants them to have all of the blessings that He has promised to those who would choose to follow Him. God made a way for His creation to once again enjoy the intimate relationship that was broken in the Garden.

Because of Sin, Jesus Had to Die to Draw Mankind Back into an Intimate Relationship with Him

On the Cross of Calvary “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18, NLT). Jesus was the fulfillment of God the Father’s redemptive plan for mankind. He paid the price for the sins of His creation. Jesus died to set them free from the bondage of their selfish desires. No longer do they have to feel the emptiness inside. No longer do they have to be separated from their Creator, because Jesus has set them free.

God did not nor does not abandon His children. Even when struggles faces a Child of God, His love always surrounds them. Job’s struggles are universally known. After losing most of his servants, livelihood, and children, Job did not curse God. On a daily basis, Job understood and experienced God’s love and goodness. That is why Job was able to question God when he was going through his torment. Michael Fiorello, in his work, “Aspects of intimacy with God in the book of Job” stated that “[t]hrough Job's identification with God came his security and ability to be authentic with God and the realization that God was also authentic with him” (2011, p. 160). Job’s faith continued to be strong in the midst of his torment because he had an authentic, intimate relationship with God. He knew the God of the Universe and relied on His loving grace.

God is calling His creation to come to Him, renewing the intimate relationship that was lost in the Garden. They do not have to struggle on their own. They do not have to feel empty inside, for God has promised He will be with those who will call on Him. He will not leave them alone. Isaiah the Prophet pleaded, “Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously” (Isaiah 55:6-7, NLT). God wants all of His creation to come to Him. He wants to show them mercy and grace. He wants to show them His love.

God created mankind in His own image so they can not only understand and experience God’s love, but to love Him and others in return. Jack Balswick and Judith Balswick, in their book, “The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home” wrote “God is love (1 John 4:16). There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). God expresses perfect love, and we can respond in love because God loved us first (1 John 4:19)” (2014, p. 8). People strive to find satisfaction and fulfillment in their lives. Goals are set; degrees are completed, and careers are started with the purpose of meeting one's needs. However, satisfaction in life, and a healthy intimate relationship with family and friends will never be satisfied “until it is recognized that personal needs are met only in a relationship with Christ” (Crabb, p. 87). Through an intimate, loving relationship with God, people can not only experience His love but demonstrate it in their lives as they love others as Christ loves them.

Only Through an Intimate Relationship with Their Creator, can a Child of God Have a Healthy Intimate Relationship with Others

God loves His creation. He does not want them ever to feel or be alone. Having a close, intimate relationship with their Creator is the first way God fulfills their needs and desires. Marriage is another mechanism God uses to bring intimacy to His creation. There are differing views on how a couple is to love one another. In the traditional marriage, the couple sees their marriage as an institution that should not be broken at any cost. Divorce is considered morally wrong. Therefore, it is rare. Happiness is not even part of the equation. The role of husband in a traditional marriage is that of an authoritarian. The husband is the head of the household; therefore, he makes all of the decisions, and the wife is to support him (Balswick & Balswick, p.p. 88-93).

In the modern view of marriage, the idea of the marriage as an institution is rejected. In the 1960s, the focus was more on the happiness of the individual. If an individual were not happy in marriage, he or she should have the right to divorce. In the modern view of marriage, happiness, and not commitment is all that matters. The marriage certificate has become a contract and not a sacred vow. Because of their self-centered focus, it is not a shock that in the 1970s, the divorce rate went up dramatically. In the age of the individual, commitment has fallen to the wayside, and the divorce rate continues to rise (Balswick & Balswick, p.p. 88-93).

Jack Balswick and Judith Balswick, in their book, “The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home” discussed a more biblical perspective on the role of marriage. A covenantal relationship is a relationship based on grace. Relationships within the family are “designed by God, are meant to be lived out in an atmosphere of grace, not law. Family life based on contract leads to an atmosphere of law and is a discredit to Christianity” (2014, p.12). A covenantal marriage is not about satisfying one’s needs or desires, but striving instead to meet the needs and desires of one another. When a couple’s focus is on meeting their spouse’s needs and desires, their relationship will be healthy and secure. In God’s eyes, they will be complete. Their unity will bring wholeness in their marriage. God declared in Genesis 2:24, when a man leaves his parents and joins his wife in marriage “...the two are united into one” (NLT). Commitment in the marriage is the key. Grace will fill their hearts and their marriages as they experience and reflect God’s love to one another, unconditionally. God will bless a marriage where the couple makes a covenant with one another, promising to love their spouse in the same way God loves them.

The third mechanism God uses to bring intimacy to His creation is through His children loving their whole family, neighbors, co-workers, strangers, and even their enemies with the same commitment to love as He loves them. God has given mankind the ability and desire to love and be loved. However, mankind is incapable of loving in the same way God does, for His love is perfect. Nonetheless, that does not take away the responsibility to love as Christ loves (Ephesians 5:2). Pamela Anderson, in her essay, “Can We Love as God Loves?” wrote “if we think that we can love as God loves, it is only because we can try to keep our attention and intention totally directed towards pure and impossible goodness” (2006, p. 146). God’s child is not able to consistently show perfect love due to his or her fallen nature. However, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit they can choose goodness and righteousness in every situation they may face (John 14:26). They can choose to show and be love to others by not counting their faults against them. They are commanded to “[m]ake allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:13-14, NLT).

A Child of God is to be clothed in love. When he or she remains in Jesus, and Jesus in turn remains in them, they are clothed in love. Jesus Christ is Love, therefore, remaining in Him is how a Child of God can be love to the world. Jesus said that His followers were the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14, NLT). The more a person strives to be like Jesus, the more they will be a reflection of the characteristics of Jesus Christ, Himself (2 Corinthians 3:18).

When reflecting the love of Jesus in the family, the family in turn can express their desires, fears, and failures; past and present freely. They do not have to fear rejection. The idea of sharing one’s past with someone else drives many into a darkened shell. However, “[t]he ability to share parts of your past with the people you love creates understanding and helps you join the other person’s world. Such disclosure is the cornerstone of intimacy” (Clinton & Sibcy, Why You do the Things You Do, p. 70). Living in an atmosphere of love and forgiveness is living a life of intimacy. Never having to worry about rejection because of past failures, releases a person from the bondage of fear and regret.

Love and forgiveness do not take away a person’s past failures, though repentance and forgiveness are the beginning of a loving relationship with one another and God. God is a God of forgiveness. He has not only forgiven but forgotten past sins of His children (Psalm 103:12). To love others as Christ has loved them, a Child of God must forgive those who have sinned against them. They must not hold the action against a person, driving a wedge between them. When someone is willing to move forward, forgetting the faults of others, it will not “…erase the past, but it makes the future different. When we choose active expressions of love in the primary love language of our spouse, we create an emotional climate where we can deal with our past conflicts and failures” (Chapman, p. 133).

In the same way a couple reveals their love for one another, resolving their conflicts and failures, they are to show true love toward their children. Showing love toward their children, parents can help them learn from their mistakes. Providing mercy and forgiveness also demonstrates love and acceptance. When a child is living in a climate of acceptance and grace, they can express themselves freely. They do not have to live in fear of what will happen when they do admit to their failures. When a parent creates an atmosphere of love, they “…are able to chart a positive course to navigate future challenges” (Clinton & Sibcy, Loving Your Child too Much, p. 65).

Parents can express pure love toward their children because they have experienced pure love from their Heavenly Father. He has revealed Himself as a loving parent to His children. When His child is disobedient, it grieves Him. When God’s children are evil, He will suffer just “…like a loving parent, and when [they] repent, God feels joy on [their] account and ceases to suffer” (Drabkin, p.p. 234-235). A parent grieves when their child disobeys them. They grieve when their child does the wrong thing. However, when the heart of a parent is filled with the love of their Heavenly Father, they can respond to their child with God’s mercy and grace. Through love, repentance, and forgiveness, an atmosphere of openness and security fills the home, drawing the child to their parents and to their Heavenly Father.

Because of God’s love toward His children, they can understand, experience, and express true love toward others. When a Child of God expresses repentance and or forgiveness, he or she can be and experience the reality of God’s presence with one another. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “A man who confesses his sins in the presence of a brother knows that he is no longer alone with himself; he experiences the presence of God in the reality of the other person” (as cited in Lucado, 2012, p. 79). Christians are to be the full expression of God’s love to one another and the world. Through expressing or receiving God’s love, they will become or receive the presence and joy of God and His forgiveness.

God’s command to love family and friends is not as difficult as loving enemies, but God has commanded that His children love everyone through the mercy and grace they have experienced through Him. When a Child of God experiences His mercy, it is “…a testimony to the most remarkable way in which God has demonstrated love for enemies: God has shown mercy to us, despite the ways we have shown enmity toward God by sinning” (Johnston, p. 88). A Child of God does not have the right to pick and choose whom they want to forgive. God’s expression of mercy is for all of His creation. It is His desire to forgive everyone. Therefore, it should be the desire of His children to forgive those who have harmed them.

Laurie Johnston, in “Love Your Enemies—Even in the Age of Terrorism,” wrote about God’s desire for His children to love even their enemies. She eloquently stated that the “…commandment to love our enemies reveals to us that even the human categories of ‘friend’ and ‘enemy’ become irrelevant in the face of true love” (2005, p. 91). True love does not distinguish between friend and foe. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (NLT).

The expression of God’s love for His creation was demonstrated through His covenant to mankind. His covenant was based on His actions, not the actions of those whom He was making the covenant. For His children to love, in the same way, God has loved them, they cannot pick and choose whom to love. They must love as God has loved them. When His creation was His enemies, Christ died for them. Jesus even asked the Father to forgive those who put Him on the cross, “…for they don't know what they are doing…” (Luke 23:34, NLT).

God’s children are to love with the same covenantal love He showed, and continues to show today in their lives. When love is the first expression of a Child of God, it will not matter to whom it is expressed. Through the love of the Father, experienced by the love of Jesus Christ on the cross, and reminded daily through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, a Child of God can be the love of God to the world.

References:

Anderson, P. (2006) Can we love as God loves?. Theology and Sexuality, 12(2), 143-146. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy. liberty.edu:2048/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=73cb4a 55-47e3-4cc4-b1b0-9cf467d3f0ac%40sessionmgr4003&vid= 1&hid=4201.

Balswick, J., & Balswick, J. (2014). The family: A Christian perspective on the contemporary home (4th ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Chapman, G. (2010). The 5 love languages: The secret to love that last (4th ed.). E. C. Newenhuyse (ed.). Chicago, IL: Northfield Publishing.

Clinton, T., & Sibcy, G. (2006). Loving your child too much. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

Clinton, T., & Sibcy, G. (2006). Why you do the things you do: The secret to healthy Relationships. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

Crabb, L. (1977). Effective biblical counseling: A model for helping caring Christians become capable counselors. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Drabkin, D. (1993). The nature of God’s love and forgiveness. Religious Studies, 29.2, 231-238. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy. liberty.edu:2048/stable/pdfplus/ 20019608.pdf?&acceptTC= true&jpdConfirm=true.

Fiorello, M. D. (2011). Aspects of intimacy with God in the book of Job. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 4(2), 155+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id =GALE%7CA285088191&v= 2.1&u=vic_liberty&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=029df893aed863d0a0e92b9ca9634c05.

Johnston, L. (2005). Love your enemies: Even in the age of Terrorism? Retrieved from http://rx9vh3hy4r.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc= info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_ val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Love+Your+Enemies%3F%3FEven+in+the+Age+of+Terrorism%3F&rft.jtitle=Political+Theology&rft.au=Johnston%2C+Laurie&rft.date=2005-01-01&rft.issn=1462-317X&rft.eissn=1743-1719 &rft.volume=6&rft.issue=1&rft.spage=106&rft_id=info:doi/10.1558%2Fpoth.6.1.87.56661&rft.externalDBID=n%2Fa&rft.externalDocID=10_1558_poth_6_1_87_56661&paramdict=en-US.

Lucado, M. (2012). Grace: More than we deserve, greater than we imagine. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

Maris, K. (Winter 2009/2010). God loves you. Ploughshares, 35.4, 110+. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40354585.