I read again this classic by A. W. Tozer. The title reflects what should be every believer’s passion. The thought processes of this 20th century prophet bring both challenges and comfort to the searching soul. Tozer establishes the basis for our pursuit by acknowledging complete dependence on the drawing of God (Jn 6:44) – the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts that we might follow hard after God. Man created in the image of God can know Him intimately. The provision of God satisfies the ravished soul in need of spiritual provision. Tozer makes clear the importance of embracing such poverty.
“The way to deeper knowledge of God is though the lonely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation of all things”.
Truly we must deny self and embrace our redeemer who enabled the rending of the veil, the holy of holies now exposed. The new covenant grants access to God through faith in Christ, yet do we capitalize on such privilege? For many the approach to the throne remains but a theory, a concept to be appreciated but not truly embraced as reality. We remain distant from God because we don’t know the gift that is ours by the effectual call of God. Their remains an inhibition to journey into the spiritual realm – the glory of God remains hidden. We battle the veil of self, unwilling to fully relinquish the throne of our lives that we might fully enjoy His presence. Tozer reminds us,
“Let us beware of tinkering with our inner life hoping ourselves to rend the veil. God must do everything for us. Our part is to yield and trust. We must confess, forsake, repudiate the self-life, and then reckon it crucified.”
And what is the crux of this whole issue but a doubt of the spiritual realm – dismissing the reality of that which we cannot sense. Concluding in our hearts that God is not real but a conceptual representation of what is right, we revert to the worship of His teachings – good guidance for a well-lived life. The concept of a relationship with God is foreign. Our faith in God is lacking given our trust in our five senses for discernment which limits spiritual understanding to very shallow waters. Thus, we fail to experience that which is reality – a deep relationship with God, the worship of our King. The reality of the existence of God is not dependent upon my belief in such existence. God is reality. He is independent of me – the Creator versus the created. Despite what I believe to be true, God is! Tozer opens our eyes to this understanding of the reality of God, the spiritual realm, and an opportunity to have a personal, intimate relationship with God. And there is so much more this prophet has to share. I invite you, nay I challenge you to read this important message from a man mightily used by God.
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