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A few years ago, after I left the University of Tennessee, realizing that my dreams of playing football in college were ending, I looked for a job that would hide me from public opinion. I began to work at a rescue mission in my hometown.
Slowly, I began to see that the people I had once looked down on were not that much different than me. Contrary to popular belief, no one actually plans on being homeless. Not once did I ever hear of someone saying that being homeless was on their bucket list. I realized that some of these men were simply dealing with unfortunate circumstances.
Upon the realization that I was no better than any of them, we started to work together. We had a system in place where everyone was handed daily chore assignments to keep our facility spic-and-span. For the most part, we had men from every walk of life living together in peace -- not focused on the past, but rather committing themselves to bettering their future.
Obviously, other than being homeless, it seemed as though everything was going according to plan. A majority of the guys were committed to working together to improve their situation, except for one.
There was a man in his fifties, originally born in Vietnam, who never took part in any of the daily responsibilities. I would constantly ask him to clean, or mop, or simply wash the dishes and he would just mumble and walk away. I thought to myself, “Poor guy, he doesn’t even speak English.”
After receiving a couple complaints about him not doing his part, I thought it was time to get to the bottom of things. As the conversation with him began, he started speaking in another language. Shockingly, however, after I told him that he would no longer be able to stay at the rescue mission because we could not communicate with him, he miraculously started speaking English. I realized that he knew English all along. He just never wanted to respond to me.
The sad reality in coming to Christ is that most of us receive the same response from God as I received when I asked the Vietnamese man to participate in chores — Silence. The reality is that he knew English, so the ability to communicate was not the problem. He just never liked what I was saying.
Thus, a question comes to mind: Why would the veil be torn for man to be in the presence of God if God never planned on actually speaking back to us?
"19 Therefore, believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus, 20 by this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have a great and wonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, 22 let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word];" - Hebrews 10:19-23 AMPC
Isn’t it interesting that one would assume my relationship with the Vietnamese guy was strained because he never responded, but oddly enough we don’t assume that we have a strained relationship with God after many prayers and no response?
"28 Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord, 30 Would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices." - Proverbs 1:28-31 AMPC
Much similar to the guy at the rescue mission, most Christians only want to communicate with God on their own terms. And if God asks anything outside of what we want to do, we choose not to listen.
"3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions." - 2 Timothy 4:3-4 AMPC
Another question comes to mind — Would God pick and choose what He can say to us or just not speak at all?
"37 He who loves [and takes more pleasure in] father or mother more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves [and takes more pleasure in] son or daughter more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; 38 And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life]." - Matthew 10: 37-39 AMPC
There was a time in the Bible where a group of people were following a god that they loved, but he was silent in their time of need.
"18 Elijah replied, I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, by forsaking the commandments of the Lord and by following the Baals.19 Therefore send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of [the goddess] Asherah, who eat at [Queen] Jezebel’s table. 20 So Ahab sent to all the Israelites and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, I, I only, remain a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men." - 1 Kings 18:18-22 AMPC
If we are being honest, we can all relate to this group of people in some way. They have stopped following the commandments of God and wanted to follow a different god (baal) that would perhaps make their life more comfortable and convienent. But the only problem is, this god they wanted to believe in never talked back to them or responded.
"25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose one bull for yourselves and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it. 26 So they took the bull given them, dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, hear and answer us! But there was no voice; no one answered. And they leaped upon or limped about the altar they had made. 27 At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with knives and lances until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 Midday passed, and they played the part of prophets until the time for offering the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice, no answer, no one who paid attention." - 1 Kings 18:25-29 AMPC
For the majority of my life, I was convinced that it didn't take 100% commitment and giving God everything to have a relationship with Him. And I could find lots of people to agree with me. But the only problem I came across was that He never really responded to me.
"12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship." - Romans 12:1 AMPC
The sad truth is, if we are not hearing from God, it is because the god we have chosen to believe in doesn’t actually exist.
"47 Whoever is of God listens to God. [Those who belong to God hear the words of God.] This is the reason that you do not listen [to those words, to Me]: because you do not belong to God and are not of God or in harmony with Him." - John 8:47 AMPC
Question of the Day: Which word describes your prayer life: monologue or dialogue?