Eliminating the Distance
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
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Going straight to the Cross
Get close to God. Get real close.
Eliminating the Distance
by Barry Newton
How much do you enjoy being with your children?
For me, to play with my two boys, read them
stories, give them a hug, tell them how much I
love them or teach them how to live and make
decisions are some of the most enjoyable and
rewarding moments I can spend each week. I know
how much I want us to have a strong relationship
as they grow into young men. While they might live
far from me one day, I don’t ever want our
relationship to be distant or strained. Could our
desire to be close to our children be a slight
glimpse into how much God loves us and longs to be
in fellowship with us?
God Wants to be Close to You
If the words of 1 John are allowed to sink deep
into our hearts and permeate our understanding,
can they not cause a tear to well up? Love is not
the result of us drawing near to God, rather
through his Son, God has taken the initiative and
has ensured our path home.1 Can we really fathom
how much God loves us and wants to be in
fellowship with us?
Although we see God’s love most clearly through
his giving of Jesus for us, this is nothing new.
As you read the Old Testament, can you hear God’s
longing to be close to his people?
“I will make my dwelling place among you, and my
soul will not reject you. 'I will also walk among
you and be your God, and you shall be my people.”
Leviticus 26:11-12
“I will betroth you to me forever; Yes, I will
betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice,
In love and in compassion, And I will betroth you
to me in faithfulness. Then you will know the
LORD.” Hosea 2:19-20
God Makes Closeness Possible
In order for God to dwell in the midst of his
people and walk among them, they must be a holy
people.2 This creates a huge problem since people
are not holy nor are they capable of making
themselves holy. However, through his grace God
has eliminated the distance. God has acted to take
people for himself and to make them holy.
One of the clear messages in the Old Testament is
that God was responsible for making his people
holy.3 Similarly, by giving Jesus as a sacrifice
for us, once again it is God who has made it
possible for us to be holy.
“ ... we have been made holy through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews
10:10
“For by one offering He has perfected for all time
those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14
How Close to God Do You Feel?
If you are in Christ, God has brought you close to
him. So how is your relationship with God these
days? Is it anything like the words of this hymn?
"And He walks with me and He talks with me; and He
tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we
tarry there; None other has ever known"
Do you ever sing words like this wondering what it
would be like to feel such a relationship with
God? Don’t fret and worry, TAKE ACTION. Do what
James 4:8 prescribes, ‘Draw near to God and he
will draw near to you.” You can be sure that God
has done and continues to do his part. We need to
be make sure that we are drawing close to God.
Here are some practical actions we can take.
1) Belong to God
God has provided the path to belong to him and be
in fellowship and at peace with him. This path is
through Jesus Christ. If you have not yet relied
upon Jesus but you do believe he is the Son of
God, then trust in him today. Obey the gospel by
being buried with Christ in baptism in order that
you might trust in Jesus and his blood to redeem
you.
2) Live a holy life
While God has made our relationship with him
possible, he has also always called upon his
people to preserve this wonderful relationship by
living with holiness instead of being conformed to
the sinful ways of the world.4 Just as Adam and
Eve after having sinned did not feel close to God
and even attempted to hide from God’s presence, so
too continuing in sin can cause us to avoid
drawing near to God. Repent of whatever sins might
be dragging you down and go to God in prayer
confessing them. Ask him to use you as his tool
for greater service in his kingdom. God is
faithful! God loves you!
3) Make time to communicate with God
Turn off the noise of entertainment and the never-
ending distractions which consume time and tune
into the Lord. Read his word everyday. Listen to
his message. Spend time pouring out your heart,
struggles, fears, appreciation, praise and love to
him.
If you will draw near to God, scripture promises
that God will draw near to you. After all, it was
God who took the initiative (because of his love
for you) to make this closeness possible.
1) 1 John 4:10; John 3:16
2) Deuteronomy 23:14; Leviticus 11:45; 15:31;
20:1-3; 1 Peter 1:15-16
3) Leviticus 20:8; 22:32 4) Leviticus 18:30-19:1;
1 Peter 1:14-16; Romans 12:2