So close
Recently, a child of God, a saint, left his dwelling here on earth to be with the Father, Son, and Spirit in the heavenly realm. We mourned his loss to us, and we celebrated the gift to God. What shocked me was not knowing that this person lived so close to me, and I did not know it. “How close and yet how far” I thought. We are more connected through social media, and yet so far from personal contact. I mourn the connection that we have lost in the progress of mankind. Though connected one way, I am disconnected in another way.
Connection is so important. Where would we be without the help of others, without their personal touch? Where would we be without the Holy Spirit of God? Matthew 28:20 …”And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (TLV). How hard it must have been for the followers of Jesus, when Jesus died on that cross, and how hard to see him leave again to be with the Father! And so, knowing this, a reminder was needed of his presence still with them, yet in another form.
So, God is with us. Closer than we feel at times. Even in our disbelief, even in our faith, God is with us. God is with all of his creation. Without the touch personally of his presence we would not exist. He is there in that tiny flower in the grass, he holds the moon and the stars in place. He brings life to the earth, and he is present in their death. There is never a time he does not hold us in his hands. Yet, as we go about the day absorbed in our every tick of precious time, we forget; and so, we are reminded of his love, this love of Jesus.
An impressive verse to me about this is Romans 8:35 where it speaks of nothing being able to separate us from the love of God. It may seem that way to us at times, but we are never out of his reach; neither heights nor depths, death, or life (38-39), nothing can separate us. Our sins have been taken away by Jesus. Our minds are being cleansed of the brokenness of this world. Satan has been defeated no matter how much he has tried to convince us the other way around. The only obstacle seems to be ourselves, and even there, God has a tight unyielding hold of us.
I Am Touched
I am touched by your presence
An awakening from sleep,
Made possible by your love.
That is so pure and so deep.
Once touched life is created,
Unnoticed, yet growing still.
Change becomes inevitable, as
Hearts beat to the rhythm of your will.
Eternity came down to men, who
Desired our hearts, and our love.
I am touched by your presence,
And alive in Your love.
Blessings on your week!
Study by Anne Gillam
Anne Gillam is a retired Pastor in Grace Communion International, Klamath Falls, Oregon, USA.
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