It is not uncommon for man to perceive God as a very distant Being, who is only there to be called upon in times of trouble. And when people communicate with the Almighty, it is usually in the form of a one-way communication medium, because we do not listen to him. The Bible is replete with people who walked closely with God and had a very intimate relationship with Him. (Genesis 5, vs 22-24). Such people include Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Solomon, and several others. These people were able to communicate directly with God. They talked with God, and also heard His voice when He responded. But, is it still possible for modem day Christians to communicate with Almighty God in like manner? What could have changed to make us unable to have a 2-way communication with the Almighty? We know that God does not change (Malachi 3, vs 6), therefore it is man’s sins that have created the wide gulf between him and God.

Abraham was a man after God’s own heart, it is therefore not surprising that he had a very intimate relationship with God. Several times God appeared to Abraham (Genesis 17, vs 1-2) and communed with him. Further examination of the Bible (Genesis Chapters 18 & 19) will reveal that, in a rare display of affection and love, the LORD allowed Himself to be entertained by Abraham (Genesis 18, vs 1-2, vs 22-33, Genesis 19, vs 1). Despite the intimate relationship with God, supreme reverence by Abraham was evident during this episode, and he appreciated that it was a great previlage to commune with God. Three Beings had come to visit Abraham, the LORD then stayed commune with Abraham, whilst the two angels went on to Sodom.

Abraham displayed unparalleled love, faith and obedience to God (Genesis 22, vs 1-2). A person who was prepared to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice in obedience to God was not an ordinary Christian, and he definitely deserved a special place with the LORD. It was therefore natural for Abraham to be able to communicate with God and to hear His voice always. How many modern day Christians have a fraction of the type of love and faith that Abraham had in God? Is it therefore any surprise that thousands of modern day Christians cannot establish such 2-way communication with God?

Solomon also communicated with God:

After he succeeded his father David as King of Israel, Solomon displayed love to God, even though he committed sins, not least being his marriage to Pharoahs daughter in disobedience of the laws given by God to the Israelites. But, He is a merciful God. And perhaps, due to the great love that He had for his servant David, God appeared to Solomon in a dream (1 Kings 3, vs 5-14). It is noteworthy that Solomon’s closeness with God was such that he could adequately to God even whilst in a dream, as if it was in real life. This is a display of great affinity with God and it indicates that Solomon allowed God to take over his entire being, both when awake and asleep. This represents 100% commitment to God. How many modern day Christians are so close to Almighty God that we allow Him to take over our every waking minute, awake or asleep. Are we therefore surprised at the difficulty of having 2-way communications with God when we have allowed worldly things to take predominance in our lives and hardly have time for Almighty God?

Sin created a wide gulf between God and man, so much so that man is unable to hear Him when he speaks to us. Yet, he is patient and He still speaks to us daily — in our thoughts, our conscience, our dreams, and even in His own words. But, can we hear Him? The devil struggles to prevent us from listening to, or hearing, Him. At the height of their sins when God appeared unto the Israelites in thunders and lightning, they asked Moses to beg God to only speak with them through Moses. Their sins made them inadequate to communicate directly with God. (Exodus 20 vs 19-20). However, Almighty God always had a redemption plan to enable man enjoy the same relationship that early faithfuls had with Him, and thereby again establish 2-way communication. He gave us his only Son, Jesus Christ, to serve as a bridge across the gulf. To lead us back to God so that we can hear and talk with Him. (John 14, vs 6). We must walk with Him daily, cast all our cares on Him, give our entire life to Him and listen as He speaks with us. And when He does, can we like Samuel say (1 Samuel 2, vs 10): ………..speak Lord for thy servant heareth’

It is our duty as Christians to take advantage of the communication line afforded by God’s special grace. It is easy for us to go back to God by accepting His Son as our personal Lord and Saviour, and allow Him take entire control of our lives. We must establish 2-way communications with Him. Will you start talking with, and listening to, Jesus Christ today ? (Revelation 3, vs 20)

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ".