The most important thing in your life is your spiritual journey with God because it determines your eternal destiny. Your starting on this journey depends on your yielding to God’s drawing you to Himself in love.
In this post we will explore what a spiritual journey with God is like from a biblical point of view, so you can see where you are on this journey. We will also explain how to start a spiritual journey with God for those who find that they are not now walking with God.
To begin, we will consider a Bible quotation.
Our Bible Quotation of Focus
“There be…things which are too wonderful for me, yea…which I know not…[such as] the way of a man with a maid [young woman].” Proverbs 30:18, 19.
For those who are new to Bible notation, “Proverbs 30:18, 19” is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “Proverbs 30:18, 19” is taken from the book of Proverbs in the Bible, the 30th chapter, and the 18th and 19th verses.
Two Meanings
Our Bible verses of focus, Proverbs 30:18, 19, have two meanings, the literal and the symbolic meaning.
The Literal Meaning
For the quintessential example in the Bible of “the way of a man with a maid [young woman]” (Proverbs 30:19) read the Bible book titled “Song of Solomon”.
This book gives us the love story of the courtship between king Solomon of ancient Israel and a beautiful country girl and their subsequent wedding, in the form of a song.
God says of Solomon, “He spake three thousand proverbs [concise, wise teachings of a general truth]: and his songs were a thousand and five.” 1 Kings 4:32.
But of all his 1,005 songs, God refers to the book “Song of Solomon” as “the song of songs, which is Solomon’s” (Song of Solomon 1:1), in other words, Solomon’s best song.
The literal meaning of our Bible verses of focus, Proverbs 30:18, 19, is about courtship and marriage.
The Symbolic Meaning
Our Bible verses of focus, Proverbs 30:18, 19, have a symbolic meaning. To unpack this meaning, let us first consider God’s words: “I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely [beautiful] and delicate woman.” Jeremiah 6:2.
Zion in Heaven
Who is “the daughter of Zion” Jeremiah 6:2? The answer is that first and foremost, “mount Sion [mount Zion is]…the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…[where there are] an innumerable company of angels…the general assembly and church of the firstborn [the church of Christ]…[who] are written [registered] in heaven” (Hebrews 12:22, 23), that is, “whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3.
So, Zion is a church in heaven made up of that group of people, selected by God from among all the people who have ever lived, and whose names God has written in His book of life. They are in God’s book of life because they were justified, in other words, declared righteous by God, at some point in their life. Such persons will receive eternal life from God if found worthy in the judgment.
The Daughter of Zion
This “church of the firstborn [the church of Christ]” (Hebrews 12:23) in heaven is symbolised by “the daughter of Zion” (Jeremiah 6:2) on earth. That is, “the daughter of Zion” (Jeremiah 6:2) represents all the righteous who are living on earth at any given point in time. The righteous living are also collectively called “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) in the Bible.
Why Israel? Because ancient Israel symbolised God’s people on earth. Jerusalem, ancient Israel’s capital city, is also called Zion in the Bible because Mount Zion was the name of one of the hills on which Jerusalem was situated. So, “the daughter of Zion” (Jeremiah 6:2), Zion, and Jerusalem, all symbolise God’s people on earth, God’s invisible church on earth whose people are scattered all over the world.
Ultimately, then “the daughter of Zion” (Jeremiah 6:2) represents God church on earth.
The Way of a Man With a Maid
So, symbolically, “the way of a man with a maid [young woman]” (Proverbs 30:18, 19) is the way of Christ with His church on earth. That is, the way Christ saves the people in His church on earth from eternal death (annihilation).
Even though the Bible has much to say about salvation, our saving from eternal death, no human being can specify in every detail how God saves an individual, how God guides people on a spiritual journey with Him.
All humanity can say is, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33.
What is Spirituality?
Now we are seeking to understand our spiritual journey with God and so the question arises, What is spirituality? God gives us the answer in the Bible.
“For what man [person] knoweth the things of a man [of a person], save the spirit [mind] of man [of the person] which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man [no person], but the [Holy] Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:11.
Here God states that the mind of an individual stores a perfect, complete record of everything the person has ever thought, said, done, or perceived through their senses just as the Holy Spirit knows all the things of God.
“Now we have received, not the spirit [mind] of the world, but the spirit [mind] which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12.
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s [humanity’s] wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] teacheth; comparing spiritual things” (1 Corinthians 2:13), which are “the things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11), “with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:13.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the [Holy] Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14.
This then is God’s definition of spirituality.
The Individual’s Spiritual Journey with God
The stages preceding our spiritual awakening varies from individual to individual. This post does not then seek to specify these stages beyond listing some of them.
Note that at any point in our spiritual journey we may go off the right track through the temptations of our sinful nature (our natural disposition to evil and wrongdoing), Satan, and the world. Some “may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil [Satan]” (2 Timothy 2:26), while others go on to their ruin and eternal death.
Only he or she will be saved by God who endures in their spiritual journey with God until the end of their life on earth. That is, they who continue on the right path until the time of their death or until they see Jesus Christ returning to the earth, whichever comes first, will be saved. For when Christ’s returns to the earth, humanity’s probation shall have been closed.
God’s Diagnosis of Our Initial Condition
All humanity are born with our “conversation in…the lusts of our flesh [the sinful nature], fulfilling the desires of the flesh [the sinful nature] and of the mind.” Ephesians 2:3.
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20.
In other words, every human being is “spoil[ed]…through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8) and His ways of love.
This is God’s diagnosis of the natural human condition.
God Takes the Initiative
God, through the angel Gabriel, said of “John the Baptist” (Matthew 3:1) before he was born, “He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit], even from his mother’s womb.” Luke 1:15.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit means that the person is disposed to be obedient to God’s law of love. Nevertheless, “the flesh [sinful nature] lusteth [wars] against the [Holy] Spirit, and the [Holy] Spirit [wars] against the flesh [sinful nature]: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17. So, such an individual has two natures in constant conflict with each other.
For God says, “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” Proverbs 8:1. “O ye simple [the naïve and gullible], understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” Proverbs 8:5. This is what the Holy Spirit constantly speaks to all humanity.
By this means then God seeks to first reach the heart of every human being from the moment thoughts begin in the mind of the baby in a mother’s womb until the individual’s probation closes whether by death or by the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Here we see that God takes the initiative to save humanity from eternal death (annihilation).
God Teaches Us
“The LORD [God]…beholdeth all [humanity]…He fashioneth [moulds] their hearts alike” (Psalm 33:13, 15), “to open the blind eyes” (Isaiah 42:7), saying, “Behold me, behold me” (Isaiah 65:1), “for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16.
God says, “I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way…thou shouldest go.” Isaiah 48:17. “Cease to do evil; learn to do well.” Isaiah 1:16, 17.
“Who teacheth like him [like God]?” Job 36:22. The answer is, No one teaches like God.
The purpose of God’s teaching is such that there is a change in the individual which is as the difference between night and day. A change that is an absolute turn around to go in the opposite direction from the ways of evil to the ways of love.
Yielding to the Holy Spirit
As they go along in life, many people yield in some way to the working of the Holy Spirit. This yielding though is not spirituality in the truest sense, but are glimpses of light from God that penetrate their darkness, their blindness before they have a spiritual awakening.
Some things that indicate that the individual has yielded to the teachings of the Holy Spirit are:
- Seeing the faults of others.
- The hope of a better world.
- Thankfulness.
- Acknowledging God’s blessings.
- Gratitude to God.
- Beginning to pray to God.
- Beginning to acknowledge that the faults we see in others also exist in us.
- The beginning of a desire not to continue in one’s own faults.
- A desire to fix one’s own faults, to be a better person.
- An interest in knowing God.
Spiritual Journey Stage 1: A Spiritual Awakening
Now “every way of a man is right in his own eyes” Proverbs 21:2. So, every human being is self-deceived and thinks that they are righteous when the opposite is true.
Consider this situation: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37.
Here Peter preached Christ to some people and they had a spiritual awakening. For the first time in their lives, they saw themselves as they are in God’s sight—sinners destined for eternal death (annihilation).
Thus, they were awakened to the fact that they needed to do something to avoid this fate. There was born in them a desire to be saved from eternal death and instead to receive eternal life.
Spiritual Journey Stage 2: Conversion
Having had a spiritual awakening, the next stage in our spiritual journey with God is conversion to Christ. This stage has steps which may occur all at once or they may be stretched out over a period of time, but all the eight (8) steps to conversion are the same for everyone.
Consider the following example of conversion. The Philippian jailor “brought them [Paul and Silas] out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they [Paul and Silas] said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house [household].” Acts 16:30, 31.
“And they [Paul and Silas] spake unto him [the jailor] the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes [wounds]; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.” Acts 16:32, 33.
The Philippian jailor witnesses a miracle of God and therefore was converted to Christ.
Conversion Step 1 – A Belief in Jesus Christ
As the first step in our conversion, we believe in the existence of Jesus Christ.
Specifically, he believed in Christ’s birth known as His incarnation, His life on earth, His death, His resurrection which is His coming back to life from the dead, and His ascension to heaven. This is the beginning of faith.
Conversion Step 2– A Belief in the Bible
The second step in our conversion is our belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. This is “the word of the Lord [Jesus Christ]” (Acts 16:32) which Paul and Silas taught.
Since Jesus taught that the Hebrew Scriptures were true, the jailor’s belief in Christ’s teaching led to a believe in the Hebrew Scriptures which consists of a number of books.
In the Bible we have today in the 21st century, for example the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, the Hebrew Scriptures make up the first 39 of the total of 66 books in the KJV. These 39 books are collectively known as the Old Testament.
The remaining 27 books of the KJV are collectively known as the New Testament and they give the teachings of Jesus Christ and His disciples.
So, today, a belief in Jesus Christ leads us to believe in the Bible as a whole, both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Conversion Step 3 – Actively Seeking God
The third step in our conversion is that we start to actively seek God.
The language of the heart is: “When thou [God] saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD [God], will I seek.” Psalm 27:8.
For example, the Holy Spirit led the Philippian jailor on to have this response to God’s drawing him to Himself in love.
Conversion Step 4 – The Fear (Reverence) of the Lord
The fourth step in our conversion is that we come to have the fear (reverence) of the Lord God.
Now God says, “Come, ye children, hearken unto [obey] me: I will teach you the fear [reverence] of the LORD.” Psalm 34:11.
For “the fear [reverence] of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10) and “the fear [reverence] of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7) of God’s ways of love.
That is, reverence for God and all His ways means accepting God’s ways as better than our own ways.
Conversion Step 5 – Repentance
The fifth step in our conversion is that we repent of, or in other words, are sorry for all our sins.
God says, “Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.” 2 Corinthians 7:10. “I rejoice…that ye were made sorry…after a godly manner” (2 Corinthians 7:9) because “ye receive not the grace of God [His unmerited favour] in vain.” 2 Corinthians 6:1.
For “the sorrow of the world worketh [eternal] death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10. Why? Because the sorrow of the world is sorrow for the consequences of sins and not remorse for the sins themselves.
God will not save from eternal death (annihilation) those who will not turn away from their evil ways.
Conversion Step 6 – Confession
The sixth step in conversion is the confession of our sins to God.
Regarding confession, God says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13) from God.
It is the mercy of God exercised to all humanity through Christ that brings salvation within the reach of every human being.
Conversion Step 7 – Consecration to God
The seventh step in our conversion is to obey God’s command, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” James 4:7. To purpose in our heart to walk in all of God’s ways.
This is a surrender of our will to God so that we may be governed by God’s will. It means a consecration to God, a devotion to God above all else and above all others.
Conversion Step 8 – Faith
“God, which knoweth the hearts” (Acts 15:8), of every person who has repented and submitted themselves to God, is “giving them the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] ” (Acts 15:9), and so is “purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9) in Jesus Christ.
For God says, “I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit].” 1 Corinthians 12:3.
Here we see that genuine faith in Christ as humanity’s only hope to be saved from eternal death and instead receive eternal life from God, is a gift of God and that no human being naturally possesses this faith.
This is the eighth and final step in our conversion to Christ.
Justification, the First Milestone in Our Spiritual Journey: Conversion Completed
Immediately, instantaneously, after our having genuine faith in Jesus Christ, we reach the first milestone of “justification” (Romans 4:25) in our spiritual journey with God.
This milestone marks our acceptance by God, whereby we are now in right standing before God.
For God says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD [God], and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7.
Our sins are now forgiven by God, and God therefore treats us as if we had never sinned. Why? Because the blood of Christ who died “for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2), and who became humanity’s Sin Bearer has been applied to our case to atone (make amends) for our sins.
In addition, you who are “justified by faith” (Romans 5:1) by God are such “that he [God] would grant you…that ye…[are] rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17) “because the love of God is shed abroad [poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit].” Romans 5:5.
So then, you being justified have “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9.
Spiritual Journey Stage 3: Baptism
When we are converted to Christ, we will then obey God’s command, “Be baptized every one of you.” Acts 2:38.
What is baptism? It is a ceremony whereby the individual makes a public declaration that they are now “followers of God” (Ephesians 5:1) and have left the service of Satan.
The baptismal ceremony involves the submersion of the person beneath water and the raising up of the person out of the water. It symbolises, and is a memorial of, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for humanity’s sake.
Typically, your baptism would be carried out by the person designated by a church, say, a pastor, and, having been baptized, you are then accepted as a new member of that church.
Which church should you join? I recommend the Seventh-day Adventist Church which is located in over 215 countries across the world.
However, do not join this church simply because I have recommended it. Take the matter to God in prayer and trust that God will guide you. I sincerely believe that God will guide you to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
To find a Seventh-day Adventist church near you, visit the church’s website at http://www.adventist.org.
Spiritual Journey Stage 4: Sanctification – Going on to Perfection
Justification is always immediately followed by “sanctification” (1 Corinthians 1:30) which is a lifelong process. Here the justified enter the school of Christ where they “go on unto perfection.” Hebrews 6:1.
Why does humanity need to be “sanctified” John 17:19? The answer is as God says, “That I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” Exodus 16:4.
For Christ says, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done.” John 13:15. What did Christ do? He “was in all points tempted like as we [humanity] are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.
In other words, Christ did not break God’s law of love. For “whosoever committeth sin transgresseth [breaks] also the law: for sin is the transgression [breaking] of the law.” 1 John 3:4.
That is, for any person to be saved by God they must withstand all temptations and so be found to be without sin.
The exact order of steps to sanctification varies from individual to individual so that “of which [process] we cannot now speak particularly.” Hebrews 9:5.
What we can speak of is that each person who is justified receives “spiritual gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:1) from the Holy Spirit, must engage in spiritual warfare, must avoid certain pitfalls, and has specific characteristics.
Sanctification: Spiritual Gifts
Now God says to all humanity, “Take my yoke [of service] upon you.” Matthew 11:29. He desires that every human being should be able to say in truth of themselves, “Christ Jesus our Lord…hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the [Christian] ministry.” 1 Timothy 1:12.
This enabling by God for Christian service is accomplished through spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit to the justified. To such persons God says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts…I would not have you ignorant.” 1 Corinthians 12:1.
“Now there are diversities [a variety] of gifts, but the same [Holy] Spirit. And there are differences of administrations [service], but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:4, 5.
“And there are diversities [a variety] of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal [all together].” 1 Corinthians 12:6, 7.
“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:8, 9.
“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers [various] kinds of tongues [languages]; to another the interpretation of tongues [languages]: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame [same] Spirit, dividing [distributing] to every man severally [individually] as he will.” 1 Corinthians 12:10, 11.
Sanctification: Spiritual Warfare
The justified can say of themselves in truth, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12.
This is spiritual warfare which the justified, the true followers of Christ, have to meet. Satan and his “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49) are constantly seeking to cause humanity to sin and, therefore, lose eternal life.
So, God says to them, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil [Satan], as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [trickery] of the devil [Satan].” Ephesians 6:10, 11.
Sanctification: Pitfalls to Avoid – Wavering
God says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8. “For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James 1:6.
Here is where people are tempted to not follow God wholeheartedly.
Sanctification: Pitfalls to Avoid – Self-Confidence
God says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool.” Proverbs 28:26.
For, naturally, you as a human being “cannot cease from sin” (2 Peter 2:14), it is only “by [God’s] grace” (Ephesians 2:8), His unmerited favour exercised in blessing you, “are ye saved.” Ephesians 2:8.
So, self-confidence as the individual undertakes their spiritual journey with God is a fatal mistake and sin to be avoided at all costs. We cannot save ourselves from eternal death, we are entirely dependent on God to be able to stop sinning.
Sanctification: Pitfalls to Avoid – Self-Righteousness
Regarding self-righteousness God says, “They being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” Romans 10:3.
This is a pitfall which everyone needs to avoid, even the justified, for “all our [humanity’s] righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. We can only become righteous when we receive “the gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17) from God.
Sanctification: Pitfalls to Avoid – Backsliding
God says to the justified who backslide, those who turn away from their loyalty to God. He says, “O foolish…[people], who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth [of God], before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” Galatians 3:1.
Again, this is a pitfall, a snare of Satan, to be avoided at all costs.
Sanctification: Pitfalls to Avoid – Spiritualism
Spiritualism is when people “worship devils” (Revelation 9:20), when they worship Satan and his evil angels. But God says, “I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” 1 Corinthians 10:20.
“They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:21. They shall not receive eternal life from God. Here again is another pitfall to avoid.
Sanctification: Pitfalls to Avoid – Becoming Fixed in the Ways of Evil
God says, “Seek ye the LORD [God] while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6.
Now God does not hide Himself from humanity but He says “while there is hope” (Proverbs 19:18) that we may have a desire to know God, we should seek God. That is, any delay on our part to seek God can result to our losing all desire to know God.
For God says, “Though thou shouldest bray [pound] a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.” Proverbs 27:22. Such people have become fixed in their evil ways.
Hence, they will lose their soul, receiving eternal death (annihilation) from God. This is a pitfall to avoid.
Sanctification, the Final Milestone in Our Spiritual Journey: Perfection Achieved
God says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?” 1 Corinthians 6:9.
“Be not deceived: neither fornicators [unmarried persons who have sexual relations], nor idolaters, nor adulterers [married persons who have sexual relations outside their marriage], nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind” (1 Corinthians 6:9), who are “sodomites” (1 Kings 14:24) and who we today call homosexuals, “nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers [abusive people], nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.
“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11.
Such sanctified people are “just men [and women] made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23) and, hence, they will receive eternal life from God.
Sanctification then is the second and final milestone in our spiritual journey with God. What is a sanctified person like? There are many characteristics of the sanctified and we will now look at a number of attributes of the sanctified life, the life of those who have reached God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey with God.
Purity of Heart
Those who are at the end of their journey with God have “pure religion and undefiled before God.” James 1:27.
Specifically, they have a “pure conscience” (2 Timothy 1:3) and “pure minds.” 2 Peter 3:1.
Therefore, God says, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8.
Obedience
Those who reach God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey with God are “elect [chosen by God] according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience.” 1 Peter 1:2.
They are “obedient children” (1 Peter 1:14) who are “obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7), obedient to the gospel which is God’s plan of salvation for all humanity. That is, they are obedient to all God’s commandments given in the Bible.
Therefore, God says, “Blessed are they that do his [God’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14), “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.” Hebrews 12:22.
Zeal
“Zeal of God… according to knowledge [of God]” (Romans 10:2) is a characteristic of those who reach God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey with God. They can say to God in truth, “the zeal of thine [God’s] house hath eaten me up.” Psalm 69:9.
Such people “are all zealous of the law” (Acts 21:20) of God, or in other words, they are “zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14.
God says to them, “It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing.” Galatians 4:18. Thus, they receive God’s approval.
Boldness
Speaking of the disciples of Christ, God says, “They lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is.” Acts 4:24.
“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.” Acts 4:29.
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit], and they spake the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31.
This is an example of the boldness of those who have reached God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey with God. They are not afraid of speaking the word of God despite being threatened. Such can say in truth of themselves “I…speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:20.
All-Consuming Desire for God
“With the whole heart” (Psalm 119:2), the sanctified say, “One thing have I desired of the LORD [God], that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD [God] all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD [God], and to enquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4.
Thus, those who have reached God’s desired endpoint for them in their spiritual journey with God have an all-consuming desire for God above all other desires.
Faith
Speaking of a godly man named Abraham, God says, “And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD [God]; and he [God] counted [reckoned] it to him [Abraham] for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6. So, Abraham, who is an example of those who have reached God’s desired endpoint in their spiritual journey with God, had true faith in God.
Why is faith in God so important? The answer is that, if we fail to believe all that God says, “we make him [God] a liar” (1 John 1:10) when it is true that “God…cannot lie.” Titus 1:2.
In fact, God says of all humanity, “Every man [is] a liar.” Romans 3:4. For “the heart [of humanity] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Jeremiah 17:9.
So then, absolute faith in God is a characteristic of the sanctified.
Trust
The language of the heart of those at God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey is, “Though he [God] slay [kill] me, yet will I trust in him [God].” Job 13:15.
Such persons are obedient to God’s command, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.
They have full confidence in God and have complete trust that “he [God] is faithful that promised.” Hebrews 10:23.
Love
Those who are at God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey are obedient to God’s command, “thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5) and “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Leviticus 19:18.
Such have supreme love for God and love for others and so they reflect God’s character for “God is love.” 1 John 4:8.
Led by God
God says, “I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” Proverbs 8:20, 21.
So, those at God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey say to God with their whole heart, “I will follow thee whithersoever [wherever] thou goest.” Matthew 8:19.
They are “followers of God, as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1) of God in that they follow God wherever He leads. These are they who obey God’s command, “Let thine eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26.
Giving All They Have to God
God says, “We do you to wit [want you to know] of the grace [the unmerited favour] of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” 2 Corinthians 8:1, 2.
“For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty [entreaty] that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.” 2 Corinthians 8:3, 4.
The Macedonians joyfully gave all that they had to the cause of God on earth which is the salvation of humanity.
For God says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7.
This then is a characteristic of the sanctified.
Sacrificing for God
The beloved apostle Paul, a sincere follower of Jesus Christ, said, “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked [poorly clothed], and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace.” 1 Corinthians 4:11.
“And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring [scum] of all things unto this day.” 1 Corinthians 4:12, 13.
For the language of Paul’s heart was, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:15.
He counted it a joy to be of service to God. No sacrifice of his was too great for him to give it to God. The same will be true of those who have arrived at God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey.
A Seeker of God
Those who are sanctified, who have finished their spiritual journey with God’s approval, can say in truth, “When thou [God] saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee [God], Thy face, LORD [God], will I seek.” Psalm 27:8.
Such people can say of themselves in truth, “I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him…[and] I found him.” Song of Solomon 3:1.
For God says, “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.
Prayer Life Like Christ’s
The prayer life of those who meet God’s approval at the end of their spiritual journey is just like that of Christ when He was on earth.
What do we know of Christ’s prayer life? The Bible tells us, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35.
Also, “it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12.
So, Christ made prayer a priority in His daily life and He let nothing interfere with His relationship with God which was built upon prayer to God.
He organised His time so that He could pray to God without any interruptions and that He could have quiet time alone with God.
Taught by God
God says to humanity, “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish [like a dumb animal].” Proverbs 12:1.
For God says, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8.
So then, those at God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey are taught by God. They can truly say, “Thou [God] hast taught me.” Psalm 119:102.
A Student of the Bible
To every human being, God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.
So, those who have God’s approval at the end of their spiritual journey are “ever learning, and…able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7) about God. They are students of the Bible.
God Their Only Confidant
God says, “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6.
Thus, there was a woman in ancient Israel named Hannah “and she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore [moaned].” 1 Samuel 1:10.
“Now Hannah, she spake [spoke] in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.” 1 Samuel 1:13.
Here we can see that though Hannah was grieved, she did not pray aloud so as to open the exact nature of her “bitterness of soul” (1 Samuel 1:10) to anyone, including Satan and his evil angels. She made God her only confidant, the only One into whose ears she poured the secrets of her heart.
This is what those who arrive at God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey will do.
Praise, Thanksgiving, and Joy
The sanctified will say among themselves, “By him [Christ] let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15.
They “will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD [God]” (Leviticus 22:29) as well as “sacrifices of joy” (Psalm 27:6) to God.
Why is it called a sacrifice? It is because their praise, thanksgiving, and joy, come from a heart that is loyal to God regardless of their circumstances in life. So, even when their situation may not be good they still offer these sacrifices to God.
Content
God says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” 1 Timothy 6:6, 7.
Therefore, God says those who have been accounted by God to be godly at the end of their spiritual journey can say of themselves in truth, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11. So, “having food and raiment [clothing] let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:8.
Rest
Those who are accounted to be godly by God at the end of their spiritual journey are they who “rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7. These are they who have found the blessing promised by God who says, “Ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29.
For such people “the wicked cease from troubling; and…the weary be at rest.” Job 3:17.
Peace
There are two senses in which the sanctified have peace.
First of all, “The LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh [all humanity]; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 25:31.
But the godly have obeyed God’s commandment and realised the blessing promised by God. For God says, “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” Isaiah 27:5. Such are no longer under condemnation by God.
The second sense in which the sanctified have peace is when they realise the blessings promised to those who have made peace with God. For God says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. So, such people have peace of mind at all times.
Hope
Those who have God’s approval at the end of their spiritual journey are they for whom God’s desire for them has come true.
For God says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit].” Romans 15:13.
Such people are “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13.
Willingness to Die for God
Here is what God says through the apostle Paul of people who are at God’s desired endpoint for their spiritual journey.
Paul said, These are they “who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles [non-Jews].” Romans 16:4. They were willing to give their lives for the cause of God.
Such people “overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb [Christ], and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11.
They say with their whole heart “because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.” Psalm 63:3.
Love of the Truth
Those who have God’s approval at the end of their spiritual journey are they that have “received…the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10.
God says of such people, “I have no greater joy than to hear [know] that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:4. These are they who “whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.” 2 John 1:1.
Going Wherever God Sends
Consider the example of the apostle Paul. “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” Acts 16:9.
“And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” Acts 16:10.
“Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.” Acts 16:11, 12.
Paul obeyed God’s call to go to Macedonia without any hesitation. This is what those who God reckons as godly at the end of their spiritual journey will do.
Friend of God
A man named “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:23.
For God says, “He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace [graciousness] of his lips the king [God] shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11.
So then, the sanctified are they whom God calls His friends and God, in turn, is their Friend.
Disciple Maker
Again, we will consider the example of the apostle Paul. “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” Acts 16:14.
“And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought [urged] us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.” Acts 16:15.
So, Paul was a disciple maker and he said to those under his training, “And the things that thou hast heard of me [Paul] among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2.
We can say then that those who are trained by a disciple of Christ are to themselves become disciple makers. All such can say of themselves in truth, “We are labourers together with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9.
Such people are most definitely at God’s desired endpoint for them in their spiritual journey.
Temperate
Those people who meet with God’s approval at the end of their spiritual journey can say in truth, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” 1 Corinthians 9:24.
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.” 1 Corinthians 9:25, 26.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27.
The sanctified are temperate in all aspects of their lives such as getting enough rest, getting exercise, and taking into the body only that which is healthful.
Humble
God says, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3.
“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 18:12.
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15.
This then is a description of those whom God credits as godly at the end of their spiritual journey.
Contrite
God says, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite [remorseful or penitent] spirit.” Psalm 34:18.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite [remorseful or penitent] heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17.
“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite [remorseful or penitent] spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isaiah 66:2.
So, the contrite are those who have met with God’s approval at the end of their spiritual journey.
Steadfast
Now God says, “We are made partakers of Christ [of His perfect character of love], if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast [steadfast] unto the end.” Hebrews 3:14.
“Your adversary the devil…resist [him] stedfast [steadfast] in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren [your fellow Christians] that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8, 9.
“Therefore, my beloved…be ye stedfast [steadfast], unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [God], forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord [God].” 1 Corinthians 15:58.
Steadfastness then is a characteristic of those who have God’s approval at the end of their spiritual journey.
The Reward of Eternal Life
God says, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.” Romans 2:7.
“But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil.” Romans 2:8, 9.
“But glory, honour, and peace [from God], to every man that worketh good.” Romans 2:10.
For “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed [God].” Acts 13:48.
“And this is the promise that he [God] hath promised us, even eternal life” (1 John 2:25) “to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1) and “called to be saints [genuine Christians].” 1 Corinthians 1:2.
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
Therefore, “we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you…[who are the] beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” 2 Thessalonians 2:13.
So, then everyone who have God’s approval at the end of their spiritual journey, that is, all those who have been sanctified by God, will receive the reward of eternal life form God.
How do I Start a Spiritual Journey With God?
The all-important question for every human being is, How do I start a spiritual journey with God?
God answers this question by saying, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as [white as] wool.” Isaiah 1:18.
“Call unto me [God], and I [God] will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3.
“Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.
So, pray, O pray, with your whole heart to God as if your life depended on your connecting with God! Your eternal destiny is at stake. Don’t hesitate, don’t delay, start your spiritual journey with God now.
Conclusion
In order to understand our spiritual journey with God, we considered our Bible verses of focus: “There be…things which are too wonderful for me, yea…which I know not…[such as] the way of a man with a maid [young woman].” Proverbs 30:18, 19.
We unpacked both the literal and symbolic meaning of these Bible verses as it relates to God’s church and to the salvation of every human being.
Next, we explored in detail the individual’s spiritual journey with God, giving a number of characteristics of the person who meets God’s approval at the endpoint of this journey.
Lastly, we looked at God’s promise of eternal life and how you yourself can start a spiritual journey with God.
The purpose of this post is not just to give you information but to urge you to take action so that you might be among those people who live happily and eternally with God.
If this post has been a blessing to you whether you are just starting your spiritual journey with God or you are already on this journey, please leave your comment below.
It would make God’s heart and my heart sing with joy if you are on the right path in your spiritual journey with God.
How This Blog Teaches Bible Study
My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).
Further Reading
Do read online or download my free Ebook “Victory in Christian Warfare.” This book teaches you how to have a close, intimate relationship with God who rewards those who know Him in this way with eternal life with Him. See my other free Ebook and links to purchase books at Amazon here.
Image: Shwetha Shankarat unsplash.com.
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