Wow. Startling.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

(John 17:20-26)

In the book of John, chapter 17, we have the recorded prayer of Jesus in the garden the night before He died. We don’t know if this is all of what He prayed, but what is given to us here is downright startling. For me, the most mind boggling part of this is the beginning of verse 24: “Father, I want these people that you gave me to be with me where I am.” (NCV) Think about this. Can you imagine the King of Kings, sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe, desires YOU, or ME to be WITH Him? This blows my mind. I know who I am. Nothing. There is nothing in me worthy of Him, yet He wants me with Him where He is! And He went to very great lengths to make sure I would be. You would be.

Throughout scripture the concept of God’s desire to be with us is clear. From the walks He took in the garden with Adam before sin separated us from Him, to the Tabernacle in the desert, and the temples in Jerusalem, to today’s dwelling of God – the Believer – it is God’s great desire to be with us! The tabernacles and temples will no longer be necessary. We read in Revelation 21 that there is no temple in the New Jerusalem, in heaven. That’s because God is with us. We are together again! He is truly Immanuel (God with us”) at that point.

This is the purpose of the entire plan of God – to restore us to fellowship with Him. Because He wants us WITH Him! Sin stood in the way of our being with Him, so He took care of that. It’s already done. Why did Jesus die and suffer so? It was to restore us to Himself – to remove what was keeping us apart. He wants us with Him.

Do you find that absolutely mind boggling? I certainly do. I have no idea why Elohim would desire me, any of us, to be with Him. He is the sovereign God of the universe. He can have or create whatever He desires. And this is what He wants. Me. You. The only reason? He loves us, with a love beyond our understanding.

Wow. Let that thought rattle around inside you for awhile. I guarantee it will bring you to your knees before Him in humility and thankfulness, and will raise you up to incredible heights of pure love and expectation. THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS WANTS YOU WITH HIM!! I say again, wow.