Close Encounters with God...

by Debi Baker

God has been dealing with me so much lately.  The problem is the topic.  See, I don't know what to do to 'fix' the thing He wants fixed in anyone other than myself.  Oh, I've been preaching and preaching on this subject and the congregation will amen throughout the message, however, there isn't any change!

What am I to do?  I know that God wants to get churches out of their 4 walls and into the 'highways & byways.'  I know that God is tired of people sitting around in their pew on Sunday morning and then after church they get up and leave and go about the rest of the week with NO CHANGE.

I know deep down in my knower that God is speaking to this world today.  It's way past time for us to 'get serious' about Him.  Time is short and we must be about our Father's business!  Am I saying we can't have fun?  No.  I am simply saying that every breath we take should be taken doing the work of God.  Jesus' return in the clouds is at hand!  Even if we don't really care about strangers, every one of us has unsaved loved ones.  Do we want them to miss heaven?  I don't!  I want each and every member of my family & friends to know Jesus Christ and to have a personal relationship with Him!!



We don't have the promise of tomorrow...the trumpet could sound at any moment!  With that being said, isn't it time for us to seek the face of God?  Adam had the privilege of seeing God face to face in the Garden of Eden...until He and Eve disobeyed.  Abraham had close encounters with God; the most amazing of which was when God told him to take his son, Isaac, and sacrifice him on an altar.  Isaac was his long waited for and prayed for blessing and now God says to sacrifice him!!  Being the man of faith that he was, Abraham never questioned God, he just followed directions.  Because of his obedience, God rewarded him by encountering him just before Isaac was killed!  I told my church yesterday that I believe Abraham and Isaac had 'church' at that altar that day!

Abraham loved God so much that he was willing to obey to the nth degree!  Hmm...sounds just like God who loves US so much that He willingly sacrificed His son for us!

When we have these close encounters with God they will be life changing.  But then again, maybe that's why we aren't having them...because we like our life just like it is and we don't want it to change.  Well, my friend, if you aren't willing to let God change your life, you aren't going to be able to let Him change your future!!  Think about some of the encounters people of the Bible had with God.  Imagine how amazing your life would be if you would have those kinds of encounters with God...instead of just warming a pew on Sunday mornng!

Thought for today:  Am I willing to truly have a close encounter with God NO MATTER what He does with and in my life?


Have a blessed day!