Keeping the Lord Near
 

by Steve Klein
 

Is your vehicle equipped with OnStar?  This much-advertised feature allows owners of GM automobiles who subscribe to the service to push a button and receive instant help in an emergency.  Of course, the Christian has much better emergency help available. For those who are in fellowship with God, it is a tremendous comfort to know that the help of Almighty God is only a whispered prayer away.

This wonderful blessing is not enjoyed by everyone. Everyone does not have heavenly OnStar.  This is so, despite the fact that most people in the world apparently have the perception that they can call on the Lord anytime they are in trouble, and He'll be there to help lickety-split.  The consistent teaching of Scripture is that God doesn't much listen to people who don't listen to Him. 
Note the following:

"One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination." (Proverbs 28:9)

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)

"For what is the hope of the hypocrite . . . Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?" (Job 27:8-9)

No one really wants to be in the position of having the Lord far away when needing help. Here are three keys to keeping the Lord near:

Sincerity. Psalm 145:18 states that, "The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth."  The first part of this verse may seem to be saying that the Lord is near to any and all who call upon Him.  But we've already noted that this is not the case.  Look at the last part of the verse.  He is near to those who "call upon Him in truth."  For God to be near, this condition must be met.  We must call upon Him "in truth."  Though not reliable translations, some of the modern paraphrases do a good job of catching the basic meaning of this particular verse:

The Lord is "near to everyone whose prayers are sincere" (Contemporary English Version)

The Lord is near to "all who pray and mean it." (The Message)

The Lord is near to all "who call to him with sincerity" (Good News Bible)

Righteousness.  Just as sin and unrighteousness drive God away from us, obedience and righteousness keep Him near.  Psalms 34:17 declares that "the righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles."  1 Peter 3:12 says that "the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Humility and Sorrow for Sin.  Pride and rebellion drive God away, but humility and godly sorrow bring Him close.  "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit." (Psalms 34:18)

At some point, all of us experience emergencies, hard times and trouble.  Keep God near. 

 

Other Articles by Steve Klein
Baptism and the Fellowship of the Saints
Winning Last Place
How Men Act When They Repent
Hairpin Curves