We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit. –A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
That Still Small Voice
Coming out of the Calgary airport one bitterly cold November morning, I hurried to the car rental kiosk in hopes of avoiding yet another drawn-out wait. After being stuck in an airplane seat for six hours and standing in numerous lines, I was cranky, tired, and irritable. I waited impatiently, and when I finally was handed my car keys, I sighed with relief; at last, no more people and no more delays—or so I thought. I was actually looking forward to my three-hour commute to unwind and relax, undisturbed and by myself.
Five minutes into my drive, I noticed something in the distance— the outline of a young man hitchhiking on the side of the road. I felt that familiar urge of the Lord saying, “Pick him up, Antonio,” and I thought, Not now, I’m tired and just want to relax. I knew I should obey, so reluctantly I put on my hazard lights, pulled over, and picked him up. He greeted me with a thankful smile as he began to thaw and shake off the frost from the lengthy time he had spent in the icy chill outside.
With a cordial nod and fake smile, I shook his hand, said hello, and turned the music up louder. He attempted to make conversation, but I remained arrogantly indifferent. After answering his inquiries, I turned the worship music back up. After my continued lack of interest, he finally realized I wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
Despite my best efforts to remain detached, I could not ignore the increasing urge within me to speak to this man about what was on God’s heart. Suddenly my lack of enthusiasm and selfishness were replaced with conviction and a soberness to do what God wanted. Great compassion and love for the man washed over me; the thought of where he would spend eternity apprehended me. In that moment God began to reveal to me His heart for this man; and in what seemed almost an instant, I turned to my passenger and erupted, “If you were to die today, where would you go?” The young man looked at me, and with shock and full sincerity stammered, “I…I…I don’t know. What do you mean?”
“Well,” I said, “there is a heaven and there is a hell. You are an eternal being. You will live forever. You will live in heaven or in hell. There is no such thing as paradise, purgatory, limbo, reincarnation, or the like. Heaven was made for you. Hell was not. If you live for God, you will have eternal life. If you don’t live for God, you will live forever in hell.”
I went on to describe what heaven looked like, and I also described hell. I asked him to grab my Bible from my back seat, and I had him start reading about sin, and what Jesus did on the cross for us concerning our sins. I explained that God wants to have a relationship with us, but sin separates us from having this life of fellowship. I continued to describe how we can have eternal life with God when we exchange our old life for new life in Him. We will have a new life here on Earth with real peace and joy, with the cleansing power over our sin.
Relentlessly Pursued by God
After I had explained all of this, the young man’s heart was pricked, and he began to unravel his many questions about sin, God, and eternity.
I found that the drive—which I had started out selfishly thinking was never going to end—was now coming to a close. I knew there was not going to be enough time to explain more about God and help the man come into a relationship with Him, so under my breath, I asked the Lord for more time and then proceeded to ask the young hitchhiker his name. He said, “I’m Steve.”
I then said, “Steve, I know we are at our destination, but would you join me for lunch?” He earnestly agreed to my invitation.
As I sat down across the table from Steve at an ABC Country restaurant, hoping that all I had said was sinking in, he shocked me by saying that he had been hitchhiking for the past three days and that during those three days, every driver in every car he had been in had talked to him about God and eternity!
I was dumbfounded. I now knew that God was aggressively pursuing Steve. God delighted in him and wanted him so much that He had numerous drivers share this with Steve over a three-day period! Our conversation continued and our lunchtime couldn’t have lasted long enough.
As the plates were being cleared, I began to think of a way to get more time with Steve. I volunteered to take him a little bit farther, even though it was well out of my way. I needed more time. I knew God was pursuing him with great urgency, and I had an intense burning within me to bring Steve to a place of response after three days of God’s relentless pursuit.
We walked outside to the rental car, sat down, and not being able to contain it any longer, I turned to Steve and blurted out, “Steve, God is after you. He loves you and wants to know you. And He wants you to know Him. He is calling you with great urgency and desperation. I want you to know how much He loves you. He has been trying to get your attention.”
He Loves You
I then closed my eyes, raised my voice, and with as much passion and affection as I could, I screamed out the words I felt straight from the Lord: “Steve, Steve, I love you and I want to be with you. I want you to be with Me. I love you. I gave My life for you. Would you lay down your life and take My life? I love you.”
I opened my eyes and looked at Steve. He turned to me with tears rolling down his face, and with a look of great joy and hungry desperation he said, “Yes, I want Him.” My heart leapt and gratefulness filled my whole being with the goodness of God and how much He loves us!
I tell you this story because just like Steve, God is passionately pursuing all of us. I believe God is aggressively and fervently pursuing you—no matter where you are in life. He loves you. He loves you so much and wants nothing else but for a voluntary love response from you to Him.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Want to learn more about God’s relentless pursuit of you and your pursuit of Him? You can start reading Antonio Baldovinos’ new book Relentless Pursuit for free here: Relentless Pursuit – Free Preview or find it at bookstores everywhere!
About Antonio Baldovinos
