In these days of rapidly expanding knowledge I get the feeling that we as people have forgotten why we exist. Somehow we are unconnected with anything outside of ourselves, we have become, both as a race and as individuals, obsessed with ourselves and have become introverted in the sense that if we want it done we will do it ourselves.

Now bold inclusive statements as this are not exclusive because there are plenty of people who are reaching out to others less fortunate, and who could be described as anything but self possessed or indeed obsessed with self. No this above statement somehow I feel describes our corporate persona which by its very definition means many individuals within our nations the world over are worthy of such a description.

Now where am I going with this?  Well why do I think we are not connected with anything outside of ourselves? By this I am not alluding to relationships with each other but to something far more incredibly possible: A vital, extremely fulfilling relationship with someone outside of even our own cosmos. Now many of you are catching my train of thought, maybe some are already switching off. But hold on a minute you don`t know what I am going to say.

Science has blinded many to the fact that God from the very beginning of time has actively revealed Himself to us through the world we live in. That is through creation. We perceive science has explained how this world of ours works, how our bodies work and so on. But it seems to me that the more we know the less we understand. Every discovery in the scientist`s eye is seen as yet one more piece to be placed in the jigsaw of evolution, when to many, Christians especially, these are yet more magnificent proofs that we are created beings and there is a personality out there beyond our understanding. Now I know that is a lot for any evolutionary scientist to swallow especially as I have written in a very broad sense and made sweeping statements. But we have to begin somewhere.

This sense I have that we are isolated and on our own is not my personal experience. I know a very real sense of being connected to someone more powerful than I, and also who loves me and wants the very best for me. The smoke screen science and also many false belief systems or religions have created over the centuries, in this 21^st century has reached a new choking density that so many are living absolutely hopeless lives. To so many, life has very little meaning and has no purpose.  Add in the woes of the financial catastrophe which is threatening to engulf the entire world, we now have the recipe for personal disaster on a scale never before seen. We are seeing many end their lives, often taking their loved ones with them. We are seeing ever increasing drug use, both so called recreational and highly addictive drugs with massive impact on the health of the individual and wider social problems affecting the family and society as a whole. We are seeing families destroyed, violence and hatred rising. We see greed in high places, an apparent lack of care for our fellow human beings. Very intelligent and clever men have brought our financial institutions into crisis. The rich have become richer, the poor have become poorer. What can we do? Is there someone out there who can help?

What is needed is a faith in God that works.  A faith that puts infinite value on the individual. A faith that underlines we are valuable as individuals and are loved for who we are. No I`m not essentially talking about religion but relationship. Religion may be dead but a relationship with the living God by its very definition can never be anything but alive, vital, powerful, exciting, fulfilling, purposeful, edifying, enlightening and full of hope. We would all love to have such a relationship on our terms of course, but that is the problem. We all want to do it our way which is convenient to us. However that is not the way it works.

At the beginning of this article I said God has and is still revealing Himself to us through creation and our consciences. However we need more definite revelation as I recognise it is easy to blot revelation in nature out and ignore it, and yet still to those who will seek and look, God will reveal Himself because He is so loving and gracious. You may be conscious of God, ` spiritual` for instance, a word often used in this context. On the Radio or TV and in the media I often hear `spiritual` people speaking of their beliefs. It soon becomes very clear that they do not believe the Bible and their beliefs are often very fanciful and have no real foundation in truth. We should by now recognise that to know God we must of necessity come His way.

Now not only has God revealed himself in nature and in the fact we have a moral conscience but He has revealed Himself through the Bible and of course through Jesus Christ. So how can we know God in an intimate way when there is this barrier or screen separating us from Him. This is where Jesus comes in. It was Jesus who said `I have come that they might have eternal life` I have heard it quoted like this `that they might have internal life` In fact this is a very good description of what I am getting at. God wants us to be alive inside. Jesus Christ died on the cross for you to take away your sin and open up the channel of communication to God the Father. It was God`s idea in the first place, because He knew we could not do it ourselves. Now that is where we struggle; we want to do it our way. But I have been around long enough to know this is impossible for us. We must put our pride to one side and open ourselves to our Heavenly Father who will forgive and clean us up and give us internal life, which will turn out to be eternal life, a magnificent hope and purpose now and the promise of a home in heaven when we die. This hope and purpose will transcend any trial or tribulation you may suffer here on earth. However, God is the perfect gentleman He does not force himself on us. He awaits your invitation to take up residence in your life. How long will He have to wait for you?

David Weaver 2012 Sussex