Some Shifting

This is hard to explain and I want to search it out more, but I feel as though something deep in my soul is shifting. I am moving away from mere propositional truths to spiritual intimacy. I'm NOT suggesting that experiential knowledge is somehow more valuable than objective reality, so let me explain what I'm trying to communicate... Most of my life has been a series of statements of belief that I have been encouraged to assent to. Concepts of God's holiness, Jesus' divinity, sin and salvation, etc. They have laid the foundation for what I am realizing is the true heart of Christianity—love. Being re-united to the God of the universe, through the person of Jesus Christ, and finding all of my longings met in Him. Everything I was created for is found in Him. He does not desire me to simply agree to some facts or theories or faith presuppositions or a biblical worldview. He wants me to know Him, intimately. He wants me to be one with Him, as He is one with the Father... So many places in scripture talk about knowing God...

Matthew 7:23... Jesus speaking, "Many will say to [Jesus] on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then [Jesus] will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

John 8:19... Jesus speaking again, "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

Philippians 3:8... Paul said, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord"

John 17:3... "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

Now, absolutely, there is more to Christianity than that phrase, "knowing God" or whatever. There is faith and obedience and worship and service and trust and love and adoration and sacrifice, etc. But I feel like I am understanding that, at the core of what Christianity—following Jesus Christ—is, the whole process of salvation and the whole theme of history and the whole work of God's redemptive plan in the world is to draw us back to Himself and restore our ability to find complete, full and utter satisfaction in the love and mercy and holiness and creativity and strength and wisdom of the God of the universe. He is a Person. He is longing for us to know Him, love Him, adore Him, trust Him and walk with Him. It isn't about rules or principles. He is not a math theory or a school principal or vending machine in the sky. God is the all-sufficient perfect sustaining Being that holds all of existence together and loves us deeply and yearns to be all that we need and want. The path to that spiritual intimacy with Him is only found through time with Him, meditating on His word, cultivating a grateful heart and eyes that see Him in the everyday details of life, in the eyes of the people around us, in the poor and lonely, in the creative and beautiful... I don't want to simply memorize rules to live by. I want to quiet myself down at the soul level and learn to experience the presence of Jesus Christ and be changed by knowing Him and being with Him. I want to pick up His mannerisms and learn what His heart beats for. I want to be changed inwardly and I want to love the people around me deeply and selflessly because of the life, peace, freedom and strength I find through God's Spirit working in me. I want to learn to enjoy being in His presence, because of who He is, not just what He does for me.

So that's kind where I feel like my heart is shifting. It is still vague and hard to describe. I have certainly not arrived (merely beginning it feels!), but I feel like my heart is being pulled down to deeper waters.