Learning the Difference between Near and Far
By Rev Adam Fox
Everything I know, I learned for the street - the Sesame Street.
We were taught how to share, family, numbers and letters, as well as basic concepts of life. Concepts like near and far.
Grover so clearly explained what it means to be near and what it means to be far. It was simple. So then how come I, and so many others mix up what it means to be near to someone?
I can be next to someone, in the same room - participating in the same activity - and still be miles away emotionally or Spiritually.
If I am with my fiance, I make it a goal not to be on a date with her AND my phone, or to only be there in person and not emotionally.
But sometimes it happens.
Some times are emotions, or our fears, or hopes take us to another place.
We are still learning what it means to be near and far. Especially when it means to be near to God.
As a believer in God, it is our goal in life to draw closer to God. Closer in a lot of senses.
Closer as we learn how to be more like Him and less like ourselves. By learning how to sin less and be more of God's love and grace and hope to the world, to our community.
The Christian life is a hard life, it is a life of becoming Sanctified - the life long process.
But somehow in our collected effort to being like God, to be coming Sanctified, we think drawing near to God is only in the physical.
Lets look at the Tower of Babel.
The early Humans, in their own blind arrogance tried to be like God, tried to get on God's level - to be near Him. And boy oh boy did they fail.
Genesis11 "Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth."
This one example. One of many examples of Humans not understanding what it means to be near to God.
And before you say, that was a sinful group of men in super ancient times, lets look at ourselves. As Modern American Christians.
Being near to God does not mean attending church and trying to stay awake. Or dressing appropriately. You realize God does not say we need to be in a tie and expensive dresses and suites.
Drawing near to God is not going forward regularly for Altar Calls - cause that is what is expected, or that is how others can see you being a better person.
Instead, the unnamed author of Hebrews writes that " Let us draw near with a true heart." And as the beloved James wrote, Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
God wants you. He wants your soul, your heart, your all. Not just the polished up parts, or the public parts. He loves all of you.
He does want each of us to be active in His Word. Spending time with Him in prayer and study of worship.
Drawing near to God is not just things done in the public's eye, or because its expected. It something that should be done with a true heart, a want to.
Being more like God is the goal. But the journey is the best part. It is the opportunity to spend each day, sometimes fighting, fighting the temptation to be selfish and sin, and be more like God.
As we learn what it means to draw near.
Until next time.
Cheers and Excelsior!
Pastor Adam
