"The first instance that I remember of that sort of inward, sweet delight in God and divine things that that I have lived much in since, was on reading those words (1 Tim 1.17) 'Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.' As I read the words, there came into my soul, and was as it were diffused through it, a sense of the glory of the Divine Being; a new sense, quite different from any thing I ever experienced before. Never any words of scripture seemed to me as these words did. I thought with myself, how excellent a Being that was, and how happy I should be, if I might enjoy that God, and be wrapped up in him in heaven, and be as it were swallowed up in him for ever! I kept saying, and as it were singing over these words of scripture to myself; and went to pray to God that I might enjoy him, and prayed in a manner quite different from what I used to do with a new sort of affection...."
The Spirit of God has the power to illuminate the Scripture and give spiritual taste buds, like he did here for Jonathan Edwards. This is a divine accomplishment, but yet one that must be pursued. Truly Christ said that the Spirit works like the wind and you don't know where it comes from or where it goes (John 3). But as Spurgeon has commented, if you want a crisp breeze, head for the ocean or climb a mountain. In other words, we need to pursue God and go where He has promised to bless. The great news is this- that God has given us the highways that take us to Him! The highway is the Bible, prayer, worship, and fellowship. If I want to go and enjoy the ocean, what do I need to do? I need to get in my car and take the appropriate highways to get there! As long as I stay in my house, or small apartment, I will never arrive and never enjoy the ocean. It is the same with God who is the dispenser of infinite joy and everlasting happiness! God gave us the desire for unthinkable happiness. Will he who gave the desire and planted it within in us not fulfill it? Though we can't have the completeness of joy till the next life, we can taste God in this life. To do so we must study! We must seek God with all of our hearts and minds and He will give us the experience of Jonathan Edwards..."never any words of Scripture seemed as these words did..." I have had the joys of such experiences in my life and I long for others to know it for themselves. I have experienced emotional thrills and a joy from my toes to the top of my head that are indescribable! The weight of the joy of God is incomparable and crushes all others!! It is as a blind man though. A blind man will never know the joys of vision until his eyes be opened. I could explain forever the wonder of the Alps and the blind person will never understand, lest his eyes be opened. Once ones spiritual eyes have been opened, though his eyes will never be shut, they may grow dim. Let us therefore meditate deeply upon the truths of God...not as the Pharisee though. They read their Bibles, prayed, worshipped, etc... but were damned. Why? They viewed these disciplines as an end, and not a means. For the Christian, these are the means or the rivers that lead us to the ocean of God. I could keep going but will end with two verses:
1 Tim 4:7- "But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness..."
Psalm 36:7-8- "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights..."
