It has certainly been a long time since I've written on my blog, but sometimes something occurs in a conversation, or is observed during reading, that must be shared. Last night I attended a Hindu temple for a class as part of a cross-cultural religious experience assignment. My roommate Becky came as well as my friend Rachel. We customarily removed our shoes and sat on the floor of the "sanctuary" and observed. We watched people bring offerings, pray and worship to the physical representations of the Hindu gods, and meditate while listening to their scriptures from the Bhagavad-Gita.
Though my heart was grieved to witness people offer up prayers and sacrifices to mere objects--lifeless pieces of stone, I was awed and inspired by their religious devotion. The temple is open every day of the week in the mornings and evenings for hours for people to come and go. I am not going to judge the hearts of these people and whether they just go through the motions of making their offerings, praying to their gods, and attending prayer time to check it off the list, when I myself am so guilty of just going through the motions with my faith in The God of the Universe whose Spirit dwells within me!
When we left, we had amazing conversation about the experience. Even during the service, though we didn't speak the language and our beliefs weren't aligned with that of the Hindu religion, it was a religious experience. Becky said that throughout our time there she just prayed silently, "God, somehow...may You be glorified." That is our purpose on earth; so we prayed for these kind, gentle, devoted people who Christ died for, just as He died for you and me.
This experience strengthened my faith, just as sharing The Gospel at Kaleo this summer did for my spiritual journey. The reason I titled this post "Forgotten God" is also because that is what my small group is reading this semester. Francis Chan is one of my top 5 most admired people in this world, and this book has challenged, convicted, and enlightened me on so many levels.
While we were enjoying a sandwich at Jimmy John's after leaving the temple, Rachel said something that her roommate once discussed with her that just blew my mind (sooo many things opened my eyes in that convo). She was talking with her roommate about wanting to ask Moses what it was like to live with God right there with them, showing Himself as the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, and hearing His audible voice. She thought, how could the Israelites have turned from God when He was right there obviously in front of them?! Her roommate replied how if Moses could ask one thing of us today, it would be what is it like to have God live WITHIN you? BAM. The Holy Spirit lives within us, and I'm not going to attempt to profess any theological knowledge, but He was there from the beginning too, but not in the same way as after Christ's ascension.
All this to say, marvel at the incomprehensible truth that God lives in us when we ask The Holy Spirit to make us His temple. Let's not forget that our God is right here too. Here am I asking how the Isrealites could disobey with God right there, when I do everyday with God living in me! Rest in the beauty of that truth- nothing can separate you from The Spirit because He lives in you. Our God is amazing! Pray that His light would shine throughout the world.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39
