The God Who is Near

November 10, 1991

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he will also hear their cry, and will save them. Psalm 145:3,4,17-19

(Jesus:) "I who speak to you am he." John 4:26

Introduction

Whether or not we believe it, whether or not we even know or care, everything in life begins and ends with God. And whether or not we believe it, our thoughts about God, conscious or not, have everything to do with making us and shaping us into what we are and what we do.

This is true of an individual. It is true of a church or a denomination. It is also true of entire nations and cultures.

In order to think about God we need to ask at least three questions:

1. IS THERE A GOD?
2. WHAT IS GOD LIKE?
3. WHAT IS GOD TO ME?

I will tell you at the beginning that all the questions about God and life and faith have their answers in Jesus. These answers are not necessarily to be found in studying Jesus as we might an historical figure or a textbook, (as in, 'What did Jesus really say?',) but rather in looking to Jesus as the divine Word of God who is Present, sent from God to reveal Himself to those who diligently seek Him.

I. QUESTION ONE: IS THERE A GOD?

It seems almost sacrilegious to ask such a question from a Christian pulpit. As a church we are certainly not neutral in this matter. It is not something that we intend to leave for our children to decide for themselves while we act for eighteen years of their lives as if there were no God. We ourselves have been brought up on the assumption that there is, indeed, a living God.

Is there a God? YES! And yet each person "has to discover God" for himself or herself. For THIS IS A "REVELATION QUESTION!" It is a question that cannot be answered by cold logic and facts, even though a loving God has given us plenty of circumstantial evidence.

We have the evidence of Creation, of what scholars call general revelation. The Psalmist says: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the starry expanse shows forth His handiwork." To those who will look with an eye of faith, and to those who will see, there is abundant evidence of a God of Creation who must be magnificent in His being.

We also have the marvelous evidence of Scripture, or special revelation. The Bible is itself a miracle, and people of faith believe that in the Bible God has spoken by His Spirit through the inspired writing of men of God. All that is necessary for coming to know God in a personal way is outlined for us in the Holy Scriptures.

But finally, God Himself must reveal Himself to you and me! IS THERE A GOD? As He speaks to each listening heart, God unmistakably answers that question. But remember, God only speaks to faith!

God is not put off by honest doubt, and God is not daunted by human weakness or incapacity. God is infinitely patient. But we must never confuse doubt with unbelief. Doubt and unbelief may look very similar; certainly at times they are related. One may pass into another, perhaps.

But doubt, in essence, says, "I can't!" Unbelief says, "I WON'T!" Doubt says, "This seems so fantastic, so unreal! Why should a great God love me?" Unbelief says, "If this is true, then I will have to change the way I live! I don't WANT to change the way I live! I won't be the center of the Universe any more!" And to unbelief God remains all too silent!

IS THERE A GOD? My answer to you is, "Of course there is!" And yet I remind you that in your personal quest for eternal life this is a question that only GOD can answer to your satisfaction. GOD WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION! But God only talks to faith. Your faith does not have to be very big or strong— it doesn't have to be perfect faith. But it must be willing faith. Try saying in your heart to God just now, "God, if You are there— take charge of my life!" I dare you! See what happens then!

II. QUESTION TWO: WHAT IS GOD LIKE?

Most people, if we can believe the polls, are open enough and intelligent enough to believe in a "higher power." But to believe in "a" God is still far from Christian faith, far from being saved. To believe in the existence of God is one thing. There is an other question to be asked, a question that must be answered to our satisfaction for saving faith to take hold: What is God LIKE?

[In the twist of our English language this may not be a proper question, for God is Unique. He is not LIKE anything else. But He can be known in relation to His creation.]

There are always people who are willing to help us, and who will try to explain God to us; scholarly people and otherwise.

We have our doctrines of God. The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene states:

We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign of the Universe; that He only is God, creative and administrative, holy in nature, attributes, and purpose; that He as God is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Such definitions are both necessary and helpful. But they certainly are not comprehensive. And they are not very personal. They don't leave us with a very warm feeling.

It is in the Bible, the special revelation of Scripture, that we begin to get insight into the mystery of what God IS (like.) The names of God as found in the Old and New Testaments are a good place to begin.

The first name God used of Himself is Elohim, which comes from a word relating to power. It would suggest that God is the Source of all energy and power.

The second name God uses of Himself is "the unspeakable name," the name which ancient Hebrews would not speak, the name we call Jehovah, and which scholars usually call Yahweh. This name is the proper noun that Moses by the burning bush heard as I AM THAT I AM.

The Jews then used compound names for God: Jehovah-Jireh "the Lord will provide"; Jehovah-Nissi, "the Lord my banner"; Jehovah-Shalom "the Lord send peace"; Jehovah-Shammah "the Lord is there"; Jehovah-Tsikenu "the Lord our righteousness."

Another Hebrew name for God is El Shaddai, or "God our Nourisher," or "Strength Giver." Adonai, which simply means "lord" or "master" was often spoken when the "unspeakable name" was read with the eye. These are some of the names and associated characteristics of God that we see in the Old Testament.

In the New Testament the teachings of Jesus opened the door of revelation still wider, and showed us that God is LIGHT and that He is LIFE, and that God is LOVE.

Then as we search the scriptures, and let them speak to us of the nature and attributes of God we come to say that God is Spirit; that God is HOLY; that God is ETERNAL. We say that God is OMNIPRESENT, that there is nothing hidden from Him; that God is OMNISCIENT, that there is nothing He does not know or understand. God is OMNIPOTENT, and the only thing that God cannot do is contradict His own nature. God is GOOD, so He cannot also be EVIL. God is HOLY, so He cannot also love uncleanness.

But the highest and best answer to the question What is God LIKE? is found in the Person and Word of Jesus Himself. Jesus said, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father. (John 14:9.) Paul writes "In the face of Jesus Christ shines the glory of God the Father. (2 Corinthians 4:6.)

If we come to the Bible with an open heart, we can begin to know the answer to the vital question, "WHAT IS GOD LIKE?" We will be convinced that "Jesus loves me, This I know, for the Bible tells me so!"

But we still face the most important and vital question of all:

III. QUESTION THREE: WHAT IS THIS GOD TO ME?

What you or I believe about God's existence or His nature will not change the fact of God one little bit. GOD IS! God does not change from person to person, He is not a subjective figment of human imagination.

But saving faith is more, far more even, that knowing and believing what is true and right about God. Saving faith is a miracle of God's grace. THIS, TOO, IS A 'REVELATION QUESTION!" Only God Himself can bring us into personal knowledge and certainty that Jesus Christ is our personal Lord and Savior.

The Bible tells us that it is possible to have answered the first two questions and still not be saved. "The devils also believe— and tremble!" (James 2:9.)

How is it possible to know God in this personal way? How can we draw near to this great EL SHADDAI?

She was doing a routine task, one she had done hundreds of times before, so her mind could freely wander. She was thinking serious thoughts as she moved along. Thoughts about life and death, about God and worship, and the meaning of all these things were mixed in with thoughts of her present situation. She had really made a mess of her life. It wasn't all her fault. And yet...

Her thoughts were interrupted as she arrived at the well. She saw this Jewish gentleman sitting right on the cover of the well. He startled her by asking for a drink of water.

One good word led to another. Soon she was engaged in the most thrilling conversation of her entire life. She began to express some of the questions she had been pondering.

"Are the Jews correct in saying we have to go to Jerusalem to worship?" she asked. "Or can we Samaritans worship right here on this mountain?" She gestured to the twin peaks towering above the well.

Her heart was open. She longed to know what God was really like. She wanted to know what God demanded of her.

What a tremendous, satisfying answer this Stranger began to give her! He told her, "You don't need more RELIGION! You have too much of that already! What you need is contact with God!"

"What is God LIKE?"

And that day at the well of Jacob one Samaritan woman received the greatest discourse ever spoken on the nature of God and worship. Jesus told her, "God is Spirit. They that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." He went on to say that the place and even the method may vary. God is interested in what goes on in the heart.

As Jesus spoke this woman saw the pieces of truth she had already known begin to fit together and make sense with her own situation. She spoke out loud: "I know that when Messiah comes He will explain everything to our satisfaction!" Inside her longing heart was crying out "Could not the great God this man is describing do something wonderful for me SAME DAY?"

And THEN came the EARTHQUAKE! The Jewish gentleman said: YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT ONE MINUTE LONGER! MESSIAH IS HERE NOW! "I that speak to you am HE!" All of a sudden this very REAL God, and this very GREAT God was also very NEAR!

A lovely story! But Jesus doesn't usually approach people today like He did the woman at the well. How do WE draw near to EL SHADDAI?

The answer is: We don't! Oh, I know the Bible says "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!" But in every case, we can come near to God because God has already given us an invitation! WE CAN DRAW NEAR TO GOD, BECAUSE GOD IS ALREADY NEAR!

We envy the woman at the well because she could see and talk with Jesus the Messiah. But by His Spirit out-poured, Jesus is nearer to us, now, day by day, than He was to the woman at the well of Sychar. Conclusion

When we are (1) in our daily routine, GOD IS NEAR! When we are (2) mixed up, messed up, GOD IS NEAR! When we are thinking how we can worship better, or do better, or be more spiritual, GOD IS ALREADY NEARER THAN YOU KNOW! He waits for us to recognize His Presence, and to let Him love us and fill us.

God is so great that He fills the Universe. But He is also so NEAR that He knows what you are thinking, and knows what you need. He knows all about you! And He loves you just the same!

Prayer: