Do You Want the Post Card or the Experience?

Many years ago, I was able to join my husband on a work trip. I was so eager for this vacation because it would not only allow us some much-needed time together, but we would also have the opportunity to snow ski in beautiful Big Sky, Montana. Without a great deal of thought or preparation, we decided to rent a car and visit Yellowstone National Park while we were there. If you had asked me my thoughts about Yellowstone before visiting, I would have told you that it is a gorgeous place due to the vast number of pictures I had seen over the years. Whether it be from my own computer, friends, postcards, etc., I knew with certainty that it was beautiful. I did not need to see it up close to be sure of that –or so I thought!

After about an hour drive through roads covered in white and elk roaming the roads freely, we arrived in West Yellowstone. We rented our attire and snow mobiles and headed out on our half-day tour. I soon realized that the magnitude and vast beauty of this place far exceeded any picture I had ever seen and any story I had ever heard. The view was now in 3D, and it was magnificent. As big as that word, magnificent, sounds, it just does not seem to do justice for my experience that day. I even took time to look for synonyms of the word that would better explain the beauty that I experienced that day. Epic, glorious, grand, majestic, massive, monumental, splendid, were just a few that I found. And guess what? They still did not put into words what my eyes witnessed that day. Even though I had much knowledge on the beauty of Yellowstone, I had never experienced it for myself. And what I had seen in pictures did not even come close to my up-close view.

And just like my experience of Yellowstone, I think our experience with God can be the same. I would say that most of us know who God is. We know that He created the whole universe in 6 days and rested on the seventh. We know that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to the earth. We know that He would be born to a virgin, live a sinless life yet die the death that only the worst of sinners deserved. And we know that He did all of this to save us from our own wickedness. The reason behind this? All so that we could glorify him on earth while resting in the promise of Heaven as our eternal dwelling place. If you have never heard this truth and would like to know more, I would be honored to have the opportunity to share it with you. 

But for those of you who have heard of God and the love He has for His children –have you experienced Him? Are you the recipient of His abundant love, overflowing grace, and unmerited mercy?  Have you had a personal encounter with the Creator of the World? Do you know God –I mean really know Him? Or is your experience much like my Yellowstone experience where I thought I knew how amazing it was until I had arrived there and saw it for myself? Until I sat at the bottom and looked up, or when I sat on the edge and looked out. I simply stood in awe of the majesty that had surrounded me on all sides. This feeling could have never resulted from a postcard, google image, or anything of that sort. While my time at Yellowstone offered incredible clarity and a shift in my perspective, it does not even come close to what an encounter with the One True Living God offered me. 

This true, personal encounter is the difference between:

Knowing who God is versus experiencing Him as your Savior (John 3:16-3:17)

Knowing Him as a creator versus experiencing Him as the One who transformed you into a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Knowing about God's love versus experiencing the saving grace of His sacrificial love (Romans 5:8)

We can know God, or we can Experience God.  Knowledge comes from the first, and love, forgiveness, grace, joy, hope, purpose, and the promise of heaven is a result of the second.  

I fear that many have taken the time to know who God is but have never sat at His feet with a heart of surrender in complete awe of who He is. Head knowledge is a wonderful asset. But when what we know becomes what we truly believe and surrender to–that, my friend begins the most incredible experience this life can offer.  Until you encounter a relationship with the King of the Universe, you are simply looking at a 2D picture of something meant to be viewed in 3D. 

So, how do you experience God for yourself instead of just knowing who He is? Do you give of your time to study His word and communicate with Him through prayer–have you surrendered your entire life to Him? The awe and wonder of a mighty God can only be experienced up close and very personal.

If you have never experienced a personal relationship with God, I invite you today to release control over everything that you have been trying so hard to hold on to. Dedicate every day to really knowing Him and His plans for your life. Give yourself to Him and allow Him to use you to further His Kingdom. Choose the experience over the postcard. This is where you find unending joy.

Joyfully HIS, 

Jennifer N. Pearson

 

Let's Talk About It: How do you experience God for yourself instead of just knowing who He is? Let us know in the comments below!

 

About Jennifer:

Jennifer N. Pearson graduated from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications. While completing her degree, she also earned the Writing Across the Curriculum Award. In addition to her undergraduate degree, Jennifer is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Christian Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

She has spent the past several years studying the importance of spiritual disciplines and exploring ways to apply and incorporate them into her own life. 

She and her husband have three children and live in LaGrange, Georgia. 

Jennifer is a Christian author, Bible Study writer and resource creator. Her desire is grow in God each day by intentionally seeking Him and His will, giving Him her first and best, and being a light to the world for God's Glory.

 

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