God’s Nearness
The Nearness of Our God
Francis
Frangipane
In the 73rd Psalm, the psalmist Asaph expressed a struggle we all
might feel at times.
He questioned why the wicked seem to prosper while the righteous
are chastened.
The whole idea was troublesome until he entered the sanctuary of
God.
Once in the presence of God, Asaph realized his error.
As he compared himself to the unbeliever, he saw that, apart from
the influence of God, he had nothing in which to boast.
He said, "When my heart was
embittered and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was
like a beast before You" (verses 21-22).
Finally his soul brightened as he considered that God alone was
his salvation, and his relationship with God was his strength.
He wrote, "Nevertheless I am
continually with You. . . . You will guide me, and afterward receive me to
glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on
earth. . . . God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever"
(verses 23-26).
The summary thought of Asaph's revelation, and the point of this
message, is in verse 28.
He wrote, "But as for me, the nearness
of God is my good."
Let's settle this truth once and for all: it is the nearness of
God that produces our good.
Christianity was never designed by God to be sustained by nice
people trying to appear good.
We're not that good.
We're not that clever.
And we're not that nice.
The only thing that can sustain true Christianity is true union
with Jesus Christ.
It is nearness to Him in all things that produces our spiritual
fruit.
If we are honest, we will admit that, apart from the influence and
work of God, there is nothing morally superior or remarkably virtuous about our
lives.
Our flesh has the same carnal passions as do people in the world;
our soul carries within it the same insecurities and fears.
Apart from the influence of Christ in us, there's no difference
between Christians and non-Christians (except that Christians, when living
separate from God's presence, can be more obnoxious).
It's only our relationship with the Lord that keeps us from
fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh, for apart from Him we can do
nothing (John 15:5).
Therefore the strength of our walk does not originate from within
ourselves; rather it comes from our relationship with Christ.
Our virtue, if it can be defined as such, is that we have learned
to prioritize seeking God; our character is the offspring of our oneness with
Jesus.
By this I mean that not only is Jesus first on our list of
priorities, but also His influence rules over all our priorities.
He inspires love in our relationships; His voice becomes the
conviction in our integrity.
God has made "Christ
Jesus" to be to us "wisdom . . . and righteousness and
sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Thus the God-seeker desires to find the Lord's pleasure drawn to
every aspect of his soul.
He also knows that, should an area of his heart exist in isolation
from God, he will remain vulnerable to manipulation by the enemy in that area.
So let me underscore the psalmist's truth, and let us say with our
own voice of conviction: it is the nearness of our God that is our good.
Oh God, You are the lover of my soul. Faithfully, have You
extended Your hands toward me. Yet I have been, at times, a drifter and
distant. Master, this day I acknowledge my most wonderful times are those spent
close to You. When my heart is near to You, I am partaking of the nectar of
life.
Adapted
from Francis Frangipane's book, I Will Be Found by You, available at
www.arrowbookstore.com.
https://www.facebook.com/francisfrangipane/posts/10154349506543246
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