But now in Christ Jesus, you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephes. 2:13)
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call on Him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)
The Lord is near. I remind myself of that often during these difficult times when our natural world is being stirred and shaken, when creature comforts are like the worthless matter washed downstream when a gold miner pans for gold. Little-by-little, our familiar is being replaced with a new norm and something as common as toilet paper becomes a hot commodity. It’s a mess out there. A war zone.
The Lord is near. With people around us in a panic, questioning His presence, His goodness as things go from bad to worse, it’s a truth worth pondering. The Ever-Present God is constantly at the threshold of our consciousness, inviting us to Behold Me, behold Me [i] in every situation we face. He beckons us with, ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord . . .[ii]
Amazing, isn’t it? The Almighty God reigns supreme over all, (even in the midst of chaos). He is in need of nothing—yet, He longs to be discovered by us. His desire is to give us a glimpse of His wondrous glory, to impart a deeper understanding of Himself. Because knowing Him, is our only lighthouse to help navigate through this, our only lifeline that will keep us afloat.
Knowing Him brings insight into the yet unseen person we are to become in Christ. Why is that important at a time like this? Do you ever wonder why you are here? What did God have in mind when He created you? Is there something you and you alone will achieve when you partner with Him? The answers lie in knowing Him. The Bible says there is more to us than what we see at present. What we will be, has not yet been revealed.
Knowing Him will also give us better understanding of the world’s disturbing current affairs. How can we survive without knowing His take on what’s really going on behind the scenes? None of this madness makes sense to the natural mind. Without knowing His perspective, our information-filtering system is at best limited to our own viewpoint and understanding.
. . . do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know . . . the hope of His calling . . . the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints . . . the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. . .
The Lord is near. A revelation away. If only we will ask.
Lord, I believe You’re as close as a revelation away.
Like light on the brink of illumination,
You, my Ever-Present God, are at the threshold of my consciousness.
A mere breath away from my grasp and yet . . .
Your attendance is clouded. Dimmed by the chaos around me.
I can’t quite comprehend.
Open my eyes to behold Your Unseen,
Your Glorious. Sensitize my heart to apprehend the deeper things of Yours.
Awaken my senses with the brush of Your hand.
Fill my hearing with the music of Your voice.
Enlighten my darkness.
