Articles
Is God your close friend?
I recently headed to the Perry library to study and after a while had to get up and walk around in order to stretch my legs. I stumbled upon a movie which I had heard was very good entitled “Beyond the Mask.” The movie received the Dove Seal of Approval, which means it does not have any inappropriate content. The background of the movie was placed in the colonies right before America declared their independence and centered around a fictional account about how God can change the heart and life of a person.
There are three main characters in the story: William, Charlotte, and Charlotte’s uncle Charles (who is the bad guy in the story). Shortly into the story William and Charlotte begin dating. Charlotte’s mother inquires of her daughter if she feels like she will marry William.
As Charlotte has only known William for 6 months, she states she cannot give a definitive answer to the question. She begins discussing William’s positive and negative qualities in order to get her mother’s opinion. She makes an amazing statement: “Sometimes he (William) speaks of God as a distant acquaintance rather than an intimate friend.”
First, I think it is remarkable that this young lady sought to understand the level of commitment her potential husband had to the Lord. To all who are currently seeking a mate this is something which you need to take seriously and evaluate carefully. Now by no means does that mean you are looking for a perfect Christian who never falters, but you must look for a godly mate with a heart to follow the Lord! Consider the negative example of Jezebel who encouraged her husband King Ahab in all the wickedness he sought to do (1 Kgs 21:25-26). But the opposite is true as well. Think about Aquila and Priscilla who encouraged and strengthened one another in the Lord (Acts 18:24-26; 1 Cor. 16:19). Choose prayerfully and carefully!
But this statement challenged me to consider again how I view God and my relationship with Him. I have very few close friends with whom I can freely discuss whatever I want. When I am dealing with a distant acquaintance I handle that person VERY differently than I do a close friend. I am more guarded and careful with my speech. How am I dealing with God: as an intimate friend or distant acquaintance? As I read the Psalms one thing that impresses me is how the authors pour out their heart to God. They are in a very personal relationship with Him and are drawing closer to Him through their requests, dilemmas, joy, and dark times. Am I following that pattern and becoming closer to God each day?
As the story of my life ends I want to make sure I am in a close relationship with my Creator and that I may be called the friend of God, just as Abraham was (2 Chron. 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23).
