THE WILL TO LOVE - Vital Christianity

96On the day of Pentecost the early Christians were accused of being drunk (Ac 2:13-14).The accusers were partly right. They were right in that these believers were drunk, they werewrong in what they were drunk with. They were intoxicated with the spirit of God, not wine(Eph 6:18). The problem with the Church of Jesus Christ is that she is never drunk! She is tooproper, too predictable. As a result she is neither a threat nor a blessing to the world.A true visitation from God affects our emotions. Isaiah, the prophet, can testify to thatfact. In the year that King Uzziah died, he saw the Lord (Isa 6:1). This vision made Isaiah cryout, “Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people ofunclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (v. 5). Hardly a stoicresponse! This vision led to obedience. As the Lord challenged Isaiah with bringing His messageto these people, Isaiah responded, “Here am I. Send me!” (v. 8).Here is mystical experiencecoupled with practical response—action.John, the beloved disciple, also testifies to the life-changing effect a vision of God brings.He shares, “When I saw Him, I fell at his feet as though dead” (Rev 1:17). It was then that Godgave him the message which now makes up the book of Revelation.Let us not suppress our feelings in our encounter with God and His unchanging truth. Letus be open to the moving of the Holy Spirit. Share freely with God what He means to you.Few saints rival St. Augustine in their love for God. Can anyone question the depth of hislove for God when he reads the following lines?“What is it that I love in loving Thee, O my God? Not corporeal beauty, nor thesplendor of time, nor the radiance of the light, so pleasant to our eyes, nor thesweet melodies of songs of all kinds, nor the fragrant smell of flowers, andointments, and spices, not manna and honey, not limbs pleasant to the embracingof flesh. I love not these things when I love my God; and yet I love a certain kindof light, and sound, and fragrance, food, and embracement of my inner man—where that light shineth unto my soul which no place can contain, where thatsoundeth which time snatcheth not away, where there is a fragrance which nobreeze disperseth, where there is a food which no eating can diminish, and wherethat clingeth which no satiety can sunder. This is what I love, when I love my God.” 5Here are expressions of worship and adoration that rival the Psalms. One of Augustine’sfavorite expressions for God was, “My Holy Joy.” All of life, for him, was sweet fellowship withhis God. Though mysticism pervades much of his writings, abstraction is missing; intimacy ofperson with person is present. He magnificently portrays with his pen the glory of God, theradiance of His grace and the wonder of conversion. His soul sings with ecstatic joy as hecontemplates the light and love of God. His love is spontaneous and passionate. He is, in fact,intoxicated with God’s love.Samuel Rutherford is known as a believer with flaming personal love for his Lord.Joseph Newton testified,