In C.S. Lewis book The Last Battle (part of the Chronicles Of Narnia series), the characters eventually find themselves–after the battle–on the way to “Aslan’s Country”. As they near it, they begin to see its beauty, and they encourage each other to go ‘further up and further in’, where they can experience more of Aslan’s paradise and remove all hindrances to fellowship with Aslan.

It is a great allegory to Heaven, and our eventual union with the Lord, where all of this earth, and the things that hold us back, are left behind. At that time, we will understand that following Jesus has been the best way to the best life–here on Earth, and in Eternity. We won’t look back longingly on the ‘stuff’ we left behind…rather, we’ll just be consumed with the Glory of the Lord (aka ‘Aslan’ in this series). We will want to go ‘further up and further in’ to be closer to Him.

Have you ever felt that?

Ever felt the ache in your heart and the thirst in your spirit that you want to go ‘further up and further in’ to the Lord?

–Where you want to eliminate the things that distract you from Him?

–Where you want to take positive steps forward, into real ongoing intimacy with God?

 

David wrote about it in Psalm 42:1-2 

“As the deer longs for water, so my soul longs for You.

I thirst for God, the living God…when can I go and stand before Him?” 

In this Psalm, David FEELS the ache. He hungers for God, and longs to be close to Him.

 

Many times I’ve felt this way…often times, when my circumstances are discouraging and my heart aches within I sense that ache.

Sometimes after I’ve sinned…again…and I’m tired of myself and irritated with my inconsistency, I long for God.

Occasionally, when life just gets hard, I want to know Him more.

 

I think that ‘ache’ is a good thing. In fact, I think it’s something put there by God Himself. I think the Holy Spirit wants us to feel that ‘ache’, to sense that longing and thirst.

It reminds us that this life isn’t ‘it’. We’re not content with this life–we know there’s something better! We know we’re headed for more!

We know that we need to–more accurately, “GET TO”–move “Further Up and Further In”. 

 

That’s what He’s destined us for. It’s what He calls us to.

This week, let the Spirit give you that ache. Let Him make you ‘thirsty’.

 

Ask Him to take you–even while in this life–to a closer relationship with Himself.

He wants to lead us to more. 

 

“Further Up and Further In!”

I remember it well…trying to feed our kids baby food when they were very little. I’d pretend that the spoon was an airplane, make the ‘flying’ noise, and try to get the spoon into the mouth (then use the spoon to gather the extra food that they’d spit out).

Usually, my kids seemed to be entertained and it worked, but occasionally it wouldn’t work, and they’d just close their mouths tightly and try to move away. On one such occasion, I was curious and actually tasted what I was giving them (I think it was baby peas).

YUK!

No wonder they spit it out! Disgusting!

Some baby foods, however, were good. Baby applesauce was always good. Now I saw that there’s a babyfood Burger and Fries! I have no idea whether or not it’s ‘legit’, but that may have made it easier to feed!

Here’s the deal though: Baby food–even Burger and Fries flavor–cannot sustain a growing person. Even the baby food makers acknowledge this, and design other foods for toddlers, etc. They assume that, after about 1 year, that child is then going to be eating solid food. Progression is normal, healthy, and expected.

Spiritually speaking, there should be growth also. The writer of Hebrews wrote,

“You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.^[c] You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. ¹³ For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. ¹⁴ Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.” (Hebrews 5:12-6:1)

Some of US–today–need to be progressing from ‘Baby Food’ to Solid Spiritual Food…but we’re not. Rather, we’re being ‘spoon fed’.

Sometimes we may go to church and feel inspired, convicted, or moved. That’s great…but no matter how powerful the Sunday service is, that cannot be all that you ‘eat’ that week! You need to be digging into the Word and seeking God on your own too.

THAT is one way that we can grow, develop and mature.

This week, don’t settle for baby food…take a bite into some spiritual meat!