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It was July 4, 1969. David and I were sitting on the couch in my parent's living room and talking into the night as we often did during a visit, since we lived nearly 300 miles apart. My parents had long since gone to bed. As happens in most conversations, and because David was rather quiet, there was a lull. After a time, as I often did, I asked what he was thinking about. He was quiet for a bit, but I could tell that he was pondering something so, I waited, yet wondering if I should have asked.
Then he said, "I was thinking that I would like to marry you." For a split second, I asked myself, "Was that a proposal?" Deciding it probably was, I agreed that I would like to marry him too. And so, it was. You might be thinking that this wasn't very romantic! Probably not, but it still warms my heart, and brings a smile to my face.
Before this point, we had been examining our relationship through a microscope by evaluating the little things about one another. We had discovered our likes and dislikes. We had similar goals in life and we felt comfortable together and missed one another when we were apart. After that moment, of course, our relationship shifted. Now we began to view our lives through a telescope because we were evaluating how to create permanence and stability as we walked purposely into the future together. During that future, we developed an even closer relationship as we learned more and more about one another.
We may also tend to look at God through a microscope and never develop a deeper relationship. We know some things about God … little details and bits of information here and there. We might even think that He's OK and call on Him when we're in trouble, but does the relationship grow that way?
David offered me the invitation to spend our lives on earth together and I accepted. God offers the invitation to spend eternity in heaven with Him and we need to decide if we will accept or not. It is a conscious decision.
God asks us to come to Him (Matthew 11:28). He tells us that he is the only way (John 10:9) and that we are to take hold of what He offers (1 Timothy 6:12). He says that accepting His invitation is as simple as calling on His name (Romans 10:13). He offers all this as a free gift (Revelation 22:17). He also offers refreshment (John 7:37), safety (John 6:37) and rest (Matthew 11:30). He asks us to acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). He promises that we will not walk in darkness if we follow Him (John 8:12). He promises that if we accept His invitation, we will not be condemned (Mark 16:16) because if we confess our sins, He will forgive (I John 1:9). The invitation is clear and life as seen through the telescope, points to an eternity that is filled with more than we could dare to dream.
Let's not spend life just looking into the microscope at all the little things that make up our lives along with the tidbits we've heard about God. Instead, let's look into the telescope God brings into our relationship development, so that we can see the work He has before us, the amazing relationship He wants to have with us through His Word and prayer, as well as the eternity He has planned for us. If you have not done so, will you accept His proposal? You won't regret saying yes. If you have accepted the proposal and are growing in relationship with Him, then look afresh into His eyes and ask Him how to deepen that relationship. He will answer.
McCormack is author of a second book, “Journeys in Faith, Pursing Obedience,” containing more than 50 additional devotionals written for The Minot Daily News.