We don’t need more speculation or debate. “That must be far worse than not to have learned him at all: his place is occupied by a false Christ, hard to exorcise!” Hard to exorcise indeed, because religion gives the impression of having Christ, while it inoculates you from experiencing the real thing.

Thus George MacDonald, that old Scottish prophet asks, “How have we learned Christ? It ought to be a startling thought, that we may have learned him wrong.” It is a startling thought. (We don’t blame them.) There are millions who try to relate to Jesus but experience him only occasionally, rarely knowing the joy of hearing his voice, feeling his presence, receiving his powerful, healing love. Sadly, tragically, there are millions who have only heard of the religious Jesus and turned away in boredom. The first purpose of your existence will be resolved, and from there you are set to fulfill all God’s other purposes for you. To know Jesus intimately, as he is, as he wants to be known, is to release a redemptive landslide in your life. The Jesus who served up 180 gallons of wine late into a wedding reception in Cana. The Jesus who gave us oceans and rivers, beauty and laughter, sunlight and sex. Not the religious guy in white robe and sandals. An intimate encounter with Jesus is the most transforming experience of human existence. He is the defining word on God-what the heart of God is like, what he is up to in the world, and what he is up to in your life. More words about Jesus are only helpful if they bring us to an experience of him.

Wild at heart watch'