This is another installment in a series that has been adapted from my 11-part CD teaching series on A. W. Tozer’s spiritual classic, The Pursuit of God.

Our  problem, as Tozer observes, is that “we have been guilty of that ‘foul revolt’ of which Milton speaks when describing the rebellion of Satan and his hosts” in Paradise Lost. We have broken free of God and have fled as far as our strength will carry us. While it is clear that we cannot possibly escape the omnipresence of the Lord, we may indeed flee from the manifest Presence of the Lord. Like Adam, we might attempt to hide among the trees of the garden, or like Peter we might say, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” We either run away from God, or beg him to run away from us.

I vividly remember my first encounter with the manifest Presence of God when I was a college senior. After a variety of experiences, I was forced to come face-to-face with that Presence, and it terrified me. Yet, at the same time, I longed for it. It is what is often referred to as the “mysterium tremendum” – that which overwhelms one with fear and terror on the one hand, and love and wonder on the other. But at that time, I was keenly aware that what separated me from that Presence was stronger than what was drawing me. I recognized that it was my sin that prevented me from reaching the love and wonder that I longed for, and that I had no hope of succeeding on my own. It was only later that I discovered the message of the Gospel, and that what I was unable to do by myself, God  Himself did for me.

As Tozer says, “The whole work of God in redemption is to undo the tragic effects of that foul revolt, and to bring us back again into right and eternal relationship with Himself This requires that our sins be disposed of satisfactorily.” It is at this point that he preveniently moves within us to persuade our heart to come home, home to God himself. Like the prodigal son, our soul awakens from its insane stupor and says, “I will arise and go to my Father.” That is the first step.

• How long do you wait until you come to your senses when you are alienated from the Father and say, “I will return to my Father’s house”?