How near are you to God?

Sounds like a funny question doesn’t it. As Christians we believe that God is omnipresent meaning that He is everywhere. That being the case we are always near to God.

If you have heard me speak or have read this blog over the last eight years of my doing it you will have heard me say things like, “God is always speaking to us”, “God will never abandon you” and “God is right here with us.” All of these are true however there are times when we feel closer to him than others. Why is that? Is there a way, in those times to draw nearer to Him?

Here is what the Bible says:

James 4: 7 – 10

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

James is talking about people who are disobedient and rebellious. They are in the church but rather than acting like saints they are acting like sinners. They are quarreling and arguing with one another, not preferring one another. They are more worried about getting what they want than trusting God to give them what they need. In other words, the world’s attitude has crept into their lives and they have wandered from whole-heartedly following the Lord to half-heartedly following Him.

Even as they have rejected the Lord, and to be honest in our growth all of us go through times like this, times of selfishness, God is showing mercy and saying, “just turn around, I’m right here!”

Even when we go through times of rebellion, God is still right there drawing us back to Himself.

Sometimes it is just the stuff of life that makes us feel so far away.

Hebrews 13: 5 - 8

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The writer of Hebrews (because of the style I believe was actually Apollos) Is telling us in chapter 13 there are things that we go through, simply the things of life. God is always there her will never leave you, you are never alone and guess what, the God of the Old Testament miracles, the God in flesh that walked among us and performed great miracles and showed us great love, He is the same God.

Whether it is sin or simple the stuff of life that has you feeling like God is so far away, don’t believe it. God is right here with you. Even as you are reading this blog, He is saying to you He is right here with you. Just come to Him. Wait for Him to talk with you and He will. Jeremiah in 31:3 says He loves us with an everlasting love.

He is right here, now!