As I was rummaging through my garage, pulling out camping and fishing gear for my trip last weekend, I ran across a book that has been very influential in my walk with Jesus. It's called "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer. I opened it up and briefly skimmed through it, looking at the things that I thought were worthy of highlighting years ago. It brought back great memories of when I was in college. I used to live and breathe the Word of God. I would sit in the University Center at UTA and read and meditate on scripture for hours. I would read books like "The Pursuit of God" and I would talk to God throughout the day. Every day.
One of the things that was so real to me when I was in college was the reality that there were 2 worlds in life. There is the spiritual realm, and then there is the physical realm. Life was incredibly exciting to me because I thought about, searched for, and anticipated things that God was doing in the spiritual realm. It changed the way I saw my interaction with my professors, my new friends that were completely lost, the freak with the bullhorn shouting at people as they walked by going to class, and those who worked on campus. I knew: "There is much more going on here than I can see with my eyes." Spiritual warfare had become so real and so... thick. And anytime I talk about this reality, I think I sound like a madman. I sound crazy.
And I can see why people thought Jesus was crazy. He said strange things all the time. He knew the reality of both worlds- the spiritual and the physical. "In my Father's house there are many rooms; if it weren't so, I wouldn't have told you." "I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me..." "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Had Jesus overcome anything? It appeared that he was in a battle with the authorities and that he was on the losing end.
And the parables that Jesus told- they were always somewhat veiled so only those who were thinking on the proper realm would understand them.
And the things Jesus did. His miracles served as a way to draw people to see the reality of the spiritual realm. The Kingdom of God had come to earth!
Okay, back to that book. The one in my garage. Here are a few things that I highlighted or circled and I wanted to share:
"Every man must choose his world."
"A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to beckon upon its reality."
"At the root of the Christian life lies belief in the invisible. The object of the Christian's faith is unseen reality."
"The soul has eyes with which to see and ears with which to hear. Feeble they may be from long disuse, but by the life-giving touch of Christ they are now alive and capable of sharpest sight and most sensitive hearing."
"As we begin to focus upon God, the things of the Spirit will take shape before our inner eyes. A new God-consciousness will seize upon us and we shall begin to taste and hear and inwardly feel God, who is our life and our all. There will be seen the constant shining of "the True Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9) More and more, as our faculties grow sharper and more sure, God will become to us the great All, and His presence the glory and wonder of our lives."
At the close of chapter 4 in his book, Tozer closes with this prayer, beautifully scripted:
"O God, quicken to life every power within me,
that I may lay hold of eternal things.
Open my eyes that I may see;
give me acute spiritual perception;
enable me to taste Thee and
know that Thou art good.
Make heaven more rela to me
than earthly thing has ever been. Amen."
It all presses me to wonder- which world am I choosing to live in today? I hope I choose wisely.
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