Speaking Of Life 1029 | You Had to Be There
Anthony Mullins
Have you ever experienced something so amazing or seen something so beautiful you struggled to put it into words?
After visiting one of our youth camps in Montana, my wife and I took a scenic drive through the heart of Glacier National Park. It was stunning. I’ll never forget one moment as we stood overlooking a valley surrounded by majestic mountains. The grandeur was overwhelming. I turned to my wife and saw that she had tears rolling down her cheeks. We both agreed that the views were more than our eyes could take in. I’ve shown hundreds of pictures and described the experience countless times. But my photos and descriptions don’t move anyone to tears. I finally have to say, “Well, I guess you had to be there.”
Have you ever used that expression? No matter how well you articulate yourself, mere words will never enable someone to enter your experience or see what you saw. All you can say is, “You had to be there.”
It reminds me when Jesus tells his disciples, ”I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”
In other words, I could try to tell you, but you wouldn’t get it anyway. The disciples were not in a place to receive all that Jesus had to share with them. So, Jesus tells them…
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason, I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-15)
Did you notice how the Father, Son and Spirit are all involved in what Jesus wants to share with his disciples? The truth the Spirit leads us into is the eternal truth of who God is as the Triune God of love.
This is not a truth mere words can convey. But Jesus doesn’t shrug his shoulders and say, “You had to be there.” He sends his Spirit who leads us there. Though in many ways our future with God is surrounded by mystery, God as Father, Son and Spirit is not a cold mathematical, 3 in 1 conundrum beyond knowing. God is an extravagant relationship of love who is known in face-to-face communion.
Instead of missing out on this immeasurable experience on account of “not being there,” the Father sends his Son who sends his Spirit to bring us into their very life of eternal and boundless fellowship.
And just like I wish you were there with us to see and experience the majestic Glacier National Park – I desire that you, my friends, see and experience the stunning and overwhelming love of God with us.
I’m Anthony Mullins, Speaking of Life
