No, Bette, Not from a Distance…

 

by Jason Lovelace

 

Key Scripture:
Exodus 3.12 – Certainly I will be with thee…

Isaiah 30.21 – And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it,” when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Isaiah 41.10 – Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Matthew 28.20 – …and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

John 1.14 – And the Word was made flesh ,and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 16.13 – Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you…

A famous song was written by Nanci Griffiths and performed about a decade or so ago by the famous singer, actress, and entertainer, Bette Midler, titled, From a Distance. The song describes how God is watching mankind, in spite of all his shortcomings, difficulties, and downright terrible acts – but he is watching us people from a distance. This song rose in the charts to become a Top 10 hit, radio stations all around the USA playing it multiple times. Millions of copies of this song were sold worldwide. It was one of the more famous and popular songs that Ms. Griffiths wrote and Ms. Midler sang. But is this popular song from the 1980s and 1990s the truth? Is God really watching mankind from a distance? Does God watch or interact with people at all? What does the Bible say about God and his interaction with people here on Earth?

Agnosticism 101…
With all due respect to Ms. Griffiths and Ms. Midler and their respective talents, their song (albeit eloquently) teaches and –in a way -- preaches a belief that many have chosen to embrace. Many – just like this song states and repeats in its chorus and refrain – truly believe that there is a God, but he does not interact with human kind. In fact, Gnosticism puts forward the belief that after God created the world in one of many and myriad ways, he left it, and everything in it, to itself. The belief here by Agnostics is that thjere indeed is a God in heaven, butt hat is where he stays: in heaven. He doesn’t help anyone, doesn’t interaction this world, and that all the evil that is as a result of such neglect is either his fault (as most Agnostics believe) for not doing enough or nothing at all, or mankind’s for walking in a way that is barbaric and hateful. Some Agnostics even go so far as to place blame on God for tragic events, despite this belief contradicting their own gnosticism. In truth, many who claim to be Atheists are really Agnostics in their beliefs. The writer of this lesson has spoken to many, many people who called themselves Atheists but who, in reality, believed the exact same as an Agnostic. One Nazarene Evangelist has even gone so far as to say that All Atheists are really Agnostics: they believe in God, but don't believe that he exists in this world. The heart of the song From a Distance is a message of Gnosticism, plain and simple.

Ye Shall hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk ye in it…
The Bible – quite contrary to the song by Nanci Griffiths and Bette Midler – states, with amazing clarity, that God walks very closely with people. As the scripture verses for today, and the header of this point, state time and time again, God is active on this Earth. He was active in the past, is active now, and will continue to be active in the future. Unlike those who choose to follow Gnosticism, followers of Jesus Christ – often called “Christians” – believe that God is not only present on Earth in the form of his Holy Spirit, but that he walked on Earth in the past, in bodily form. In fact, the Bible states that after God created the world, he walked personally with the first two people, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden. From that time, even after the fall of man into sin, God continued to walk with and talk with people. Lets take a look at how God has interacted with people…

In the Old Testament…
The accusation towards Christianity is that God somehow was different in the Old Testament in comparison to the New Testament. However, if one takes the time to study the Bible, it can clearly be seen that God did not change one iota in his dealings with man. In the Old Testament (just as in the New), God came and spoke to people who were either actively seeking him, or whose hearts were prepared for him to come. Here is a list of some of the major characters of the Old Testament, and how God interacted with each:

• Adam and Eve – God walked and talked to Adam and Eve, even after they were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Further, God spoke directly to both of their first two children, Cain and Abel.
• Enoch – The Bible states that Enoch, the seventh generation after Adam, “…walked with God, and was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5.24) Enoch walked so closely to God that he is one of two Bible Characters who did not see death!!
• Noah – The Book of Genesis states that Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD, and that his heart alone was prepared for God out of all his generation. Because of this, Noah not only was able to talk with God directly, but he and all of his family were saved from the devastation of the flood.
• Abraham – Not only did God talk directly to Abraham, but God appeared to Abraham on numerous occasions. Abraham is also called “The Friend of God”.
• Isaac and Jacob – Respectively, the son and grandson of Abraham, God appeared to and spoke often with both of these men.
• Joseph – This great-grandson of Abraham was accompanied by God wherever he went, and, despite terrible adversity, was blessed and kept in God’s hand…
• Moses – One of the Greatest in the Old Testament, God appeared regularly to Moses, spoke with him and his brother, Aaron, and, at the end of his life, declared Moses to be Greater than any Old Testament Prophet.
• Joshua – The successor to Moses, Joshua was also one to whom God appeared and spoke directly.
• The Judges – Listed in the Book of the same name, these champions of Israel were men and women to whom God spoke or appeared with regularity.

As you can see by this list, there were many to whom God interacted. You see, God – just as he does today – regularly spoke to those who sought him out, or who had prepared their hearts for him and his presence. Just as he does with those who follow him today, God regularly came and gave help to those who cried out to him out of a sincere heart. Further, God spoke in the Old Testament through his laws and the writings of Moses (the Books of Genesis through Deuteronomy), and through prophets and prophecy.

Jesus Christ
The best example of God’s interaction is Jesus Christ. Contrary to what much of the world thinks and believes, Jesus is God in the Flesh. The Gospels in the New Testament – particularly John – speak to this truth clearly, showing that though he was a man, Jesus Christ was also fully God while he walked on this Earth. Jesus Christ proved his being fully God by the miracles he performed, by the lives that were changed by him, and by his resurrection. He proved his being fully man in that he was born as a baby and died as a young man. In every way, shape, and form, Jesus Christ was, and is, God. His parables and declarations show that he was God, are also examples of the spoken word and prophecy being God’s words to people, and the fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy further tells the tale that he was and is Israel’s Messiah. Those who pass Jesus off as some good man or great teacher, or even as a revolutionary, but deny his resurrection ignore the empty tomb, the eyewitness accounts, and the horrible persecution his followers have suffered for his Name. Jesus is the very antithesis of an agnostic’s belief…

The New Testament
In the New Testament, after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, God poured out the Holy Spirit on the 120 of Jesus’ disciples who’d gathered in the Upper Room. Much as with the Old Testament believers, God sent his Holy Ghost upon those who were prepared to meet him, and because of this, the Early Church – as the earliest of Jesus’ followers are called – grew exponentially inside of just a few months. And the Holy Ghost was poured out on all those who believed, who were prepared in heart and mind to receive him, just as in the Old Testament. God spoke directly, as well, to the Early Church Christians, Peter, Philip, and Paul in particular (see the Book of The Acts). As the church was spread from one corner of the Roman Empire (and beyond), so did God’s presence via the Holy Ghost. God used the Apostles of Jesus Christ to speak to the masses by the written and spoken word, prophecy and study of the Scriptures.

What About Today?
Just as with the Old Testament Characters, and the Believers in the New Testament, God still speaks to those who listen to him, whose hearts are prepared, and who actively seek him and his presence. The Bible states that, just like the Early Church, we today can also receive the Holy Ghost, and can have direct communication with God Almighty. Just as in the Old Testament, God still uses prophets to speak to people (we often call these men and women “preachers”). Just as in the New Testament, God still speaks through his written Word, the Bible. And these are not the only ways: God shows his presence is still in effect on this Earth by miracles he performs either directly or indirectly through his people. Anyone who chooses to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour can have this communication: God will speak directly to anyone who chooses to listen…

Disbelief…and Those Who Cause It.
There are many in the world today – particularly in the West and Technologically Advanced countries – who believe that someone who says “God spoke to me!” are crackpots, dangerous to society and, at best, not mentally stable, and there is good reason for this: many, many heinous acts throughout history have been carried out by people – whether well-intentioned or otherwise – who stated that they were acting on God’s direct command. There are others who’ve said absolutely ludicrous things and made outrageous statements about what God allegedly said to them in private. Still others have preached Jesus Christ, preached God, preached the Bible, and even made fairly accurate prophecies on God’s behalf, only to have some wretched secret failing come to light later. These all combined have caused a great crop of unbelief to come to fruition to the extent that anyone saying or even implying that he or she is speaking at God’s command is relegated to the kook fringe of the worst of fanatic fundamentalists. It has caused a great modern morass in these modern times towards what God wants to say to this world. So great is this morass that even those who’ve been in the church for years and have had strong, clear beliefs have walked away, dusting their feet and washing their hands of ever having been a part. What can be done to spread the Gospel and teach the truth that God is still active in today’s world?

Point Them Towards Jesus Christ…
Christians today can do very well when speaking to skeptics about the Bible, and about the fact of God still desiring to communicate to us all today. Many times we, as Christians, will point someone to a person first, Jesus Christ second, when it should be the other way around: point them to Jesus Christ first, to people second. Too many times we point non-believers towards a preacher, a teacher, or some other person whom we consider and view as a great Christian. Doing this, however, only sets up the skeptic to be an even greater skeptic, and the non-believer more lost. If we as Christians will direct unbelievers to Jesus Christ, to his written Word, and to the Holy Spirit first, and the great preacher/teacher/Christian second, it will do wonders to convince them of God’s presence on this Earth. This is what God wants!!! He wants people to come to Him first. Yes, God will still speak through Pastors and teachers, and other people, and he will use his followers to communicate…but what he really wants is to speak directly to people, to interact directly in his or her life!!!

Conclusion – God Still Speaks!!!
Despite the song by Nanci Griffiths and Bette Midler, God does not view us from a distance! He is in the world today, just as another song speaks, and he wants to speak to you, reader, to interact in your world, in your life, and in your cirlce of friends and family!!!! God wants you to know him as intimately as you know a friend, a spouse, or a family member! He is not far away, but, as Isaiah speaks, is right next to you, speaking to you! The question is, will you take time to listen? Will you give God a minute – just sixty seconds – of your time to allow him to speak to you? He will speak, and he will interact, and he will come into your life, friend, if you wish? He will in no way cast you out if you come to him! Let’s pray…

Prayer – Heavenly Father, you speak, you interact, and you are in this world today. We know, Holy Father, that you want us, your creation, to come to you, to seek you out with a prepared heart, and to come to you and into your presence so that we may have communion with you. You tell us in your written Word that you stand at the door and knock, and that if anyone will hear you and open the door, you will come in. We pray, Lord, that many will come to know this truth and, more importantly, come to know you through this lesson. We bless Thy Name, today, Lord, and we ask that you walk close to us, and speak in our ears, directing our steps. We pray all of this in Jesus’ Name, Amen…

Verse to Remember
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
– Deuteronomy 30.14