Proximity Is Everything...

Excerpt from "Consecrated in the Chaos" chapter 6. 

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PROXIMITY IS EVERYTHING      

Let me take a moment to explain my point. Say there was a revival happening in my city, but I can never go and be a part of it.  I can say, "Revival is happening in Houston, and spiritual awakening is birthing. You have to see it".  Then my friend in San Francisco says, "Really, so what is it like"?  If I have not actually been and seen it with my own eyes, then my answer is, "I don't know. I haven't been yet, but I hear it's amazing.”  God is still moving in Houston, but my proximity reflects that I am not physically there.  When I began to realize that Revelation four and five are happening every day in the throne room of God, it has required of me to answer this question, "What is my proximity to the throne of God?”.  It has moved me to a daily decision, an hourly choice, and even a question of minutes.  Am I before the throne? Have I sat in my seat at the right hand of Christ?  Have I laid down my crowns as the elders are doing today?  Have I cried, "Holy, holy, holy is The Lord Almighty" as the living creatures declare?      

You see, Christ says He has seated me in heavenly places where He is, “… because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7  If I have a seat in the heavenly realm with Christ Jesus, then I must be compelled these days to ask myself if I am actually sitting in that seat?  Have I even shown up to the heavenly place reserved for me by Jesus? We have to recognize that our "Christianity" and our "perception" of Christ can be so ethereal, so conceptual, that we never actually stick our heads in the throne room to see what is going on, much less take our seat.  If the living creatures, the angels, and multitudes are worshipping Yahweh incessantly, then what are we doing?  I know what I was doing. I was building my own kingdom, taking care of my own house, and worrying about "my calling" for “my life”.  I was busy searching for "my fame" so I could bring Christ glory.  Now I understand that I may have access to the throne, I may even have a personal seat next to Christ, but unless I come, sit, and worship, then my proximity is not in the throne room at all. As forerunners, proclaiming the coming of Jesus, we cannot lie to ourselves and say things would be different if things were different.  Unless I choose to be with Christ then I will not be with Christ.  

There is no other remedy for having a relationship with Jesus than just having a relationship with Jesus! Proximity, proximity, proximity, it remains an issue of the heart and the only real motivation for the kind of pure heart Jesus spoke about.  Only the heart fascinated by the beauty of the Father, a heart motivated by love, can take hold of the highest commodity which is time.  Then, out of love, we give our offering of time as a gift to the Lord in long loving hours with Him.  This is a part of what we do as intercessory missionaries. We minister before the Lord because He is worth it.  After Jesus gives us the freedom and true power to choose what to do with our time, talent, and career, we bring it back to Him with tears, joy, worship, and complete adoration. This cannot be sustained by head knowledge, human wisdom, raw determination, or sheer will.  It only comes from the heart awakened to the beauty of the Lord, to His strength, and to His grace. The amazing thing about the Lord is,

“So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One.” Romans 8:1  

Do not let fear, accusation, or guilt hold you back today from just being around Jesus. He has made a way for you. Today is the day to come into the heavenly throne room, lay your crowns at His feet, worship, and take your seat next to the King.  Remember that our proximity is based upon His invitation. You cannot earn it and you do not deserve it. Your seat in Jesus is a gift of His choosing lavished upon you to show His kindness and expressed glory in you. It is not because of anything you have done or could do. The Lord knows us so well. His ways are perfect. If we look beyond the scripture, beyond the scene in Revelation four and five, beyond ourselves and all the activity, then the Lord has a seat for us in Him in heavenly places?  Have you ever asked, “Why, what for, or what does He want me to do in the heavenly seat He has given me?”. A seat is made to sit in, to rest in, to worship and rule in. The reward Jesus offers is “They will see God”. I believe it is one of the greatest rewards. They, occupying their seat in the throne room, will see God. They will see God worshipped and see God enthroned on the praises of people. They will see God’s judgments, His movements, His facial expressions, the way He rewards, and they way He is loved. They will see how the government of Heaven operates as God’s heart is moved by love. They will see all of God for eternity!    

I believe that we are living in a day of accelerated awakenings. God is awakening our hearts to the simplicity and purity of just loving God through loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  As a result of this posture and revelation, the Holy Spirit is opening the eyes of the nations to the holiness of the Lord. He is revealing the great wisdom and understanding of the knowledge of God.  He is filling our hearts with the knowledge of Christ's deep affection for us and of the Love of the Father that compels us to follow Him with total obedience and surrender.  My daughter, Avery, had a heart free from the pollution of fear, finance, past pain, bitterness, or circumstance when she prayed for twins.  Her heart was set on pure unadulterated Jesus. Her eyes were set on God and not on what EVERYONE ELSE was saying.  Her eyes were upon an awesome Father that has good things for her.  How could He have any other response to her except love?  She had ravished His heart with her glance, and He revealed Himself to her.  What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else? Romans 8:31-32 TLB  

With every glance, every look, with every small "yes" you say, He is moved and captured by your voluntary love and overcome by delightfulness in you.  This is the bridal paradigm: Jesus has strong affections for you, and He wants you to know His heart in an intimate way.

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