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Topic: Satisfied (10/11/04)
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TITLE: His Perfect and Up-close Love By Blantina Jones 10/15/04 |
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“From a distance . . . we all have enough and there is no need . . . God is watching us, from a distance” -so Bette Midler’s song goes. Upon first hearing it, my youngest exclaimed with joy, “Mom, listen . . . she’s singing about God, she must be a Christian!” It was a great teaching moment and I seized it to explain that not all who sing about God, know Him personally. We must be careful to listen to what they are saying and if their words are in line with God's teaching. And sadly, judging from her words, one is left to surmise that she knows neither God, His love nor His peace.“God is watching us ... from a distance” she says. A half truth, twisted into an ugly, deceptive lie.
God is watching us, but from a distance? “From a distance” we cannot know the warmth of a caring Father’s embrace, or hear the whisper of his endearing and comforting words. “From a distance” his love cannot be felt or known. No. God is not watching His children from a distance. He is watching us very up-close.
Passing a sign posted in front of a church I read, “If you don’t feel God near, guess who moved?” We read in Psalm 145:18 “God is near to all who call on Him in truth." Bette Midler’s song accuses God of being a God afar off - unmoved by our pain and tragedies. But nothing could be farther from the truth.
The Creator of Heaven and Earth-of all things great and small-cares so much about His children He has every hair on our heads counted. I have five children-one adopted-and all greatly loved, yet I must confess that although I have counted toes and fingers at their birth, I have never taken the time to count the hairs on their heads. A distant God cannot know such intimate details about his subjects, only a God up-close can.
So Close is He in fact, that He knew our heart’s greatest need and desire, ever before we had known it. So close is His desire to be near us that He willingly left the comforts of heaven to partake of our fallen humanness, that he might lift us up to heavenly places-taking upon himself a debt we could not pay-that we might be with Him forever.
So close is He, that before we cry "Abba, Father", He has already heard our unexpressed growns and knows the deepest desires of our hearts. Opening the port holes of heaven He pours out His blessings upon us, his children, and we are completely satisfied with the fruits of his perfect and up-close love.