The still, small voice
We are in a relentless pursuit of the Gospel of the Kingdom and so we explore it here… in our backyard. So that you and I can slow down and think about things that really matter. Perhaps over lemonade and some nice sherbet.
For instance . . .
Have you noticed that Jesus seemed to answer a question with another question? He longs for us to pursue Him. To wrestle with Him. To linger with Him. Answers do not come easy but they come fully. If you want them.
Consider this conversation that happened sometime in the history of the world in another backyard:
“Teacher, I want to hear the voice of God.”
“Good, what do you expect from the Infinite Almighty?”
"I’m not sure. From Someone so mysterious, perhaps a great wind.”
“Yes, go on . . .”
“From Someone so mighty, perhaps an earthquake”
Thoughtfully the Teacher listened. “And go on.”
“From Someone so glorious, perhaps a purifying firestorm.”
“Yes . . . so plain to see. Come sit with me in the shade of this tree.”
And they sat together quietly for some amount of time.
The teacher entered into the silence. “What do you hear?”
Surprised, the student offered obviously, “Nothing.”
“Hmmm,” the teacher voiced, nodding his head only so very slightly in agreement. “Let’s listen longer.”
And they sat. And they listened. And they listened longer. The student moved. The teacher did not. And they sat.
And the teacher asked, “What do you hear?”
The student, a bit irritated offered, “More nothing. Quite a bit more nothing.”
“Hmmm, Let’s listen longer.”
The student thought to weigh in on this current confusing lesson, but the Teacher made it clear in the expression on his face that he was not taking questions just now.
A great time passed. It grew dark and a cool breeze drifted over their shoulders.
“What do you hear?”
After some time, more time than you might think from our impatient student, he offered,
“I hear the leaves rustling above me and, in the distance, I just heard the evening meadowlark song.”
“Yes. Good. I heard that too. Now, what do you hear that I do not hear?”
After some more time, some deep moments of silence later, the student quietly spoke . . . “My heartbeat in my ears.” Then glancing at the Teacher, more quietly yet; “And perhaps a still small voice.”
More time passed. It was now quite dark. They could barely make out each other’s expressions.
“And what is it that the still small voice saying?”
Quite quickly, a smile came across the face of the student. He brought his right finger up to his lips, touching the tip of his nose with the tip of his finger. He smiled more broadly, like there was a secret joke. He answered the question simply and quite quietly, almost beyond hearing . . .
“Shhhhhhhh.”
Some more time passed. The Teacher said, with an unseen smile in his voice, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
Consider this:
The Kingdom of God is not to be conquered. It is not to be engaged like a game. The Kingdom of God is engaging you. Quietly beckoning you. All the time. Jesus invited us to, “Have eyes that see and ears to hear.” He Said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand – in your presence!” He didn’t say it at that moment, but I feel like He could have said, “I am your King! And I entered the Strong Man’s house to take back what is mine. Are you with me or are you for the prince of the power of the air? Choose this day who you will serve!”
