The Pursuit of God · Chapter
Restoring the Creator-Creature Relation explained
This chapter argues that the root of human misery is a moral dislocation—the disruption of the proper relationship between the Creator and the creature.
What happens
This chapter argues that the root of human misery is a moral dislocation—the disruption of the proper relationship between the Creator and the creature. Salvation is essentially the restoration of that right relation, not merely judicially but as a conscious, experienced change. The author insists that God must be the fixed center against which all else is measured, and that the only proper response is complete submission and the exaltation of God above all. This voluntary surrender brings simplicity, honor, and the restoration of the soul's original habitat.
Themes in this chapter
Restoring the Creator-Creature Relation
The central theme of the chapter: salvation as the conscious restoration of the proper relation between man and God, with God as the fixed center.
Surrender and Renunciation
The chapter calls for a voluntary exalting of God to His proper station and a willing surrender of the whole being, including possessions, friendships, comforts, and reputation.
Critique of Shallow Religion
The author criticizes those who call themselves by God's name but in practice choose money, men, ambition, or self over God, revealing a divided heart.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator reflects on the necessity of restoring the Creator-creature relation and urges the reader to exalt God above all.
- Jesus Christ
Referenced as the one through whose blood the atonement makes restoration judicially possible, and whose yoke is easy and burden light.
- The Holy Spirit
Mentioned as the one whose working makes the restoration emotionally satisfying.
- The Godhead
The object of reverent admiration; the self-existent One who gave being to all things.
- Self
The self is to be surrendered and decreased so that God may be exalted; the flesh whimpers against God's rigor.
Key passages
“Essentially salvation is the restoration of a right relation between man and his Creator, a bringing back to normal of the Creator-creature relation.”
Salvation is fundamentally about reestablishing the proper relationship between humans and God, returning it to its original state.
This encapsulates the chapter's core argument that salvation is relational and experiential, not merely judicial.
“We must begin with God. We are right when and only when we stand in a right position relative to God, and we are wrong so far and so long as we stand in any other position.”
God must be our starting point; our moral correctness depends entirely on our alignment with Him, and any other position is wrong.
Emphasizes God as the fixed center of moral and spiritual orientation.
“Let the seeking man reach a place where life and lips join to say continually 'Be thou exalted,' and a thousand minor problems will be solved at once.”
When a person consistently lives and speaks the prayer 'Be thou exalted,' many smaller issues resolve themselves naturally.
Highlights the simplifying power of exalting God above all.