The Ultimate Treasure

Lately I have found myself wanting to experience more of God. I want to see more of His glory and majesty. When Jesus said He came to give us "life and life abundantly" (John 10:10), I know He meant that we could have communion with Him. I long for an encounter with Him that goes beyond head knowledge and surpasses my feelings. I want Him to touch me at the core of my being. As I write this, verses are coming to mind about the importance of a pure heart.

"Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God."

(Jesus, Matthew 5:8, NIV)

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?

    Who may stand in his holy place?

 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,

    who does not trust in an idol

    or swear by a false god.

(Psalm 24:3-4, NIV)

I want to know God in a deeper way. I guess the best way to do that is to ask Him to purge my heart of everything that displeases Him. He knows me better than I know myself. He will reveal Himself to me as I continue to seek Him. Jesus died so I could be close to the Father through the Holy Spirit. I would hate to get to the end of my life and realize that I squandered the opportunity to know Almighty God intimately! The Apostle Paul treasured his relationship with Jesus above all else.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

(Philippians 3:7-8, NIV)

Everything in this world will fade away. I want to know God intimately now so that worshiping Him in eternity will merely be a continuation of my earthly worship. I know that is the most worthwhile goal I could ever have!