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Sunday, May 17, 2009

Distance Undone

Do you ever experience times when you wonder if God is really around? I do.

You know, when your hopes and dreams just don't materialize - on your schedule? Maybe people aren't treating you the way you think you deserve to be treated. Funds are getting low; you just got fired; someone you love just died; cancer just showed up.
Life just isn't happening the way you'd like it to.

These are the times when my head wonders if the Father is on vacation at some distant corner of the Universe, even though my heart tells me he's right here. But maybe I have good reason to question God's presence.

Perhaps it was different for you, but I grew up learning prayers such as: "Our Father, which art in Heaven . . ." That formal prayer transitioned sometimes into, "Oh Lord, please come down and help us." Or, "Come Holy Spirit, we're waiting for you to bless us with your presence."

In prayer and worship we sometimes lift our hands and faces to the sky, or ceiling, which suggests that God is "up there" somewhere. Some of the more dramatic saints may warn, "You better be careful. God is up there watching everything you do, and you don't want him to come down here and deal with you!"

The point is that many of us have adopted the notion that Jesus is somewhere other than where we are. Mostly, the concept is that he's seated up there on his mighty throne, perpetually scanning his followers down here on earth. No wonder we feel alone sometimes, or even abandoned by God.

Thankfully, the Trinity's presence is not dependent on our feelings, thoughts, or behavior! Not only is he where we are, we are also where he is. That's right.

Most of us are familiar with, "I will never leave you or forsake you." And, "I am with you always." But how about, " . . . your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3b). Or my favorite, "He also raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:6).

Notice that neither of those verses are in the future tense. The first is present tense, and the second is past tense. Now that's cool. I am ALREADY seated with Christ in heaven! So are you.

There is no distance between us at all.

Not only is Christ in us, but we are also in him.

He IS where you are, and you ARE where he is.

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