Is there a God? If there is, where is He? Can we have a relationship with Him?
Some people believe that, if there is a God, He is distant – far away and totally unconcerned with the affairs of men. He has left us on our own. Often they think this way because of the evil things that happen in this world, and are convinced that God is either powerless to stop them, or simply does not care enough to intervene.
However, all of the bad things we see happening around us – wars, famine, sickness, and death – are not God’s fault. They are man’s fault. Specifically, they are the result of sin.
When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, they brought a curse on the earth. They rebelled against God’s commands. Rebellion against God always leads to destruction. The curse of sin is what leads to all human suffering.
Genesis 3:17-18
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;”
God’s Word says that creation itself is “groaning” under this curse:
Romans 8:22
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”
We all feel the horrible effects of a sin-filled world. Yet, God is not distant or unconcerned with our troubles. In fact, He made provision for our greatest need – our spiritual need. He provided the antidote to the sin that is ravaging our world. The truth is, God is very near! Consider what God’s Word says about this.
Isaiah 55:6
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”
This Scripture was recorded several hundred years before Jesus came. Actually, that whole chapter was a prophecy concerning the coming of a Savior. He came, and His name is Jesus. He came to redeem us from our sins.
But do not miss the condition here: “while he may be found.” This brings to our attention the truth that God is near right now, but there will come a day when the opportunity to call on Him will no longer be available. Today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2
“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, And in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”
Do not put off the decision to trust Christ for your salvation one more day!
Psalm 145:18
“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth.”
This verse identifies that God is nigh to all them that call upon Him in truth. So what is the truth? How do we know what is true? The Lord Jesus gives us the answer to this question:
John 17:17
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”
In other words, the Bible – God’s Word – is the source of all truth. It contains the words of life, the truth of how to know God and how to find Him.
We call upon God when we realize our great need. We understand that we cannot save ourselves. When we come to this realization, we call upon Him. This is not a half-hearted request. It is a whole-hearted desire to seek God and to know Him.
Jeremiah 29:13
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
However, God is holy. Habakkuk 1:13 says, in part, that God cannot look upon sin. “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:...”
Consider that Jesus Christ became flesh to dwell among men to show them the way of salvation. Christ is Immanuel -- literally "God with us." (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23). God became a man so that we could have a relationship with Him.
To have a relationship with God, we must be cleansed of our sins, reconciled to Him. Not only did Adam and Eve sin, you and I sin every day. We too, commit rebellion against God and His law (Romans 3:23). We cannot cleanse ourselves from our sin. There is no way for us to make ourselves holy enough to enter God’s presence.
The wonderful news is that Jesus Christ has made a way for us to be forgiven and pure enough to stand in God’s presence one day. Through His perfect life, His sacrifice on the cross, Christ shed His innocent blood on behalf of the sins of the world. He has satisfied the wrath of God, paying the penalty that we deserved, and has offered us the free gift of His righteousness (Ephesians 2:8-9).
All that we have to do to receive this gift is to admit we are a sinner, believe that Jesus Christ is the perfect Son of God who died on a cross for our sins and rose from the dead, and ask Him to forgive our sins and save us.
God is not far away. He is as near to you as your next breath. In the book of Acts, we read about Paul’s interaction with some of the citizens of Athens, Greece. These people were looking for the truth about God in their own way, and Paul explained to them that, though they were feeling after Him and grasping for His presence, their misguided efforts were unnecessary – God was actually not far from them!
Acts 17:24-28
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”
God longs to know you. He longs to live in you through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When you believe on Christ for salvation, you become a child of God, you enter His family, and though there may be times you feel lonely in this life, know that you will never be alone again. Jesus will always be with you.
Hebrews 13:15
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Whatever trouble you might be facing today, know that God is near. He is our very present help.