‘Thoughts'

Even So; God Is Near

“A Special Edition of Thoughts,

By Brother, 'Robert Buckner'”

Acts 17:24-28

“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us ; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

From the very beginning of man's relationship with God on this earth, God has given man choice. And, if man does not choose God, even so; God is near.

This truism that, regardless of what choice man may make on this earth, even so; God is near, should be a point of deep consideration and contemplation by both believer and non-believer.

If one is sincere in their service and obedience to God and in the Body of Christ; God is near. It is understood that the children of God, in Christ, are in a loving relationship with the Living God. We talk with God in prayer and commune with Him in worship.

However, have you considered that even those whom are not presently in Christ still benefit from the fact that anywhere on earth; God is always near. Even though one may not surrender themselves to God, God's presence and the goodness and glory of God still spills-over into the daily lives of all of the inhabitants of this world.

Just because God is; the stars remain in place in the sky; the planets hold their course; the sun provides its light; the rain falls and there is air to breath.

Even if one is not faithful, they still benefit from the fact that, God is near.

Even if one may find themselves in the worst possible condition or situation that this earth can offer; drug addiction, sexual immorality, criminal behavior, even murder; God is near.

Even if one is caught up in the worst possible cruelties and turmoil's of war or other social violence; God is near.

Fact is, there is truly nothing by way of place; condition; or, circumstance; on this earth, or in this universe, that can happen, whereby one can deny; God is near.

If then this is true, that even in the worst possible situation or condition you may have ever found yourself in, God was near, consider how hopeless it will be if you die, and because of a lack of obedience, you are separated from God, for all eternity !

No matter what terrible things you have experienced first hand; no matter how deep a despair you may have felt in your lifetime; however bad an experience has ever been for you, you have never , while upon this earth, know any of these trials and troubles, that, God was not near.

So, if you think those darkened times were tough, consider how absolutely unbearable it would be to endure for eternity … without God near!

The danger of man making a conscious decision, while upon this earth, to separate himself from God, is that he makes this decision without knowing just how horrible a true and total separation from God really is. For, while on this earth, even in deepest sin, God is still near.

In the everlasting damnation, God will not be near! How bad will that really be? I cannot say. I have never been, no matter how distraught, in a moment of my life, when God was not near!