Wednesday, October 12, 2011

~ "So close, yet so far..."


Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. (Ps 6:4)

The heart of David is truly humbled here.  "Sickness brought sin to his remembrance, and he looked upon it as a token of God's displeasure against him. The affliction of his body will be tolerable, if he has comfort in his soul. Christ's sorest complaint, in his sufferings, was of the trouble of his soul, and the want of his Father's smiles. Every page of Scripture proclaims the fact, that salvation is only of the Lord. Man is a sinner, his case can only be reached by mercy; and never is mercy more illustrious than in restoring backsliders. (Matthew Henry)".

We lift our eyes to the heavens and call upon His great name.  We are often so preoccupied with appearances that we forget that in God's eyes, they do not matter.  He does not move away from us, it is we who move away from Him.  We revert back into our lazy selves and find pleasure and comfort from everything but His word and His presence.  We feel estranged, often lost, sometimes neglected when we don't hear or feel His presence.  He is always there, right beside us - His hand is always on our shoulder.  

Someday, we will leave this earthly existence and go on to a place of either pain or suffering.  The destination is determined by what is in your heart, what is in your soul and what you know to be true.  Your faith in Jesus - in His life, death and resurrection, in what that means in terms of eternal life (your salvation), your confession of sin and your willingness to follow the laws of God.  

Who is your God?  Is He the Creator of Heaven and Earth or one of His creations?  There is only ONE TRUE GOD!!! Do you honor His name or use it to express shock, surprise or disbelief?  Do you ask Him to bless you or to condemn those around you?  Do you pray to Him or recite a monologue of memorized words written by someone else?  Do you pray to others as opposed to Him?  Is He your companion every day or just on Sunday mornings?  Is He everything to you?  

Come back to the Lord of Lords - the King of Kings!  He's calling you!  He wants you to return to Him.  He wants to hear the sound of your voice, the desires of your heart and the praises of His name.  He wants to bless you and comfort you.  He wants you to secure a place in Heaven with Him.  He wants to welcome you back with a chorus of angels and celebrate His righteousness.  He wants to forgive you!  Open your heart to all He has for you!  Open your heart to His way!

(photo by Tom Anderson)