By Ashlie Miller
What a week. If you follow Holy Week readings and mark the days, the end of the past week was heavy. Judas, one of the 12, has betrayed Jesus by a very intimate sign. When Jesus asks those coming for Him whom they seek, and they say “Jesus of Nazareth,”He replies, “I am He.” He discloses His identity to the soldiers, religious officers, and Pharisees, who respond by falling, certainly not in worship, but perhaps in fear or overwhelmed by His power (though they do not recognize Him as God). Yet, all of them proceed after this powerful display with business as usual.
Then, Peter, slices off the ear of Malchus (servant of the high priest), nearly missing his neck, possibly. Jesus heals him instantly. Pilate later questions truth, not realizing he is questioning the Person of Truth (Jesus Christ). So many Divine encounters, yet we have no record that the nameless soldiers who fell down at Jesus’ power, nor Malchus, who had a direct encounter, nor Pilate questioning and having the Answer before him, submitted to Jesus.
This wasn’t new, even for God’s people. One could choose most any Old Testament book and find similar intimate encounters with God that were ignored, misunderstood, disobeyed, or rejected – pick a negative response.
Today, many remain in doubt, or worse, disbelief. You have likely heard or said yourself, “If I had an unmistakable encounter with God, then I would change.” But, deep down, don’t we know better? History and Scripture tell us otherwise. What a dangerously sad position to be in – to be the presence of the great “I AM,” dismiss an intimate encounter, and continue living unchanged.
It is easy to dismiss what we cannot see. Without a relationship with the Divine, how would we expect to see Him? We can hear truth, see truth, even be touched (or healed in some way) by it, but unless we know Truth as a Person, a Divine encounter can just seem like a coincidence, the universe following a path, medical intervention working, enlightenment, or worse, a lie. It can even look like someone living the church life, but never truly knowing the One who is the Sacrifice and Atonement, the Resurrection, the Life now, and the Promise of Eternal Life. How could we miss seeing it? We all walk in blindness without the merciful sight received upon salvation.
How close have you been? It could be that you’ve blindly missed the countless encounters or have chosen to continue on your own path. It is the grace of God that would ever give us even one display of His greatness.
If you are looking for a close encounter of the Divine kind, can I suggest that you attend an Easter service at a church that proclaims the transformative power of the resurrection? God has given us His Word – that we can read! He offers His Spirit to dwell in us! How much closer can we get this side of Heaven?
Ashlie Miller responded to close encounters while growing up in China Grove with her family. You may share your own with her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.
