Closer than the air around me - a reflection for April Fool's Day

 I was thinking about the fact that God's ways are right and true whether a person believes it or not, in the context of April Fool's Day, because I like to call it "Atheists Day". You may or may not have heard the joke about an atheist in court arguing that national holidays give Christians preference with Christmas and Easter but there is no special holiday for people who believe there is no God. The judge answers him and says, "yes, there is, it's called April Fools Day". (Psalm 14:1) Today, when the truth hit me, it was not about God's existence  but rather that His presence and love are with me, whether I choose to see it or not. Just as an unbeliever's view doesn't change who God is, my view doesn't change the fact that He is with me. There is a song off one of my favorite Amy Grant albums from the 80's called "Everywhere I go". The title for today's post is from a line in that song which says "closer than the air around me, you surround me always..." We learn in basic science class that the molecules of air are pressing in against us even if we can't see or feel them. The point of the songwriter is that God is even more so, as He always is...

I have often thought that if I am lazy or unfaithful about spending time in the Word or prayer, then I have shut off some invisible valve and I am missing the benefit of His love and care. We used to say in some circles, "If you feel far from God, guess who moved?" I found myself asking "How can we move away from God, He's omnipresent?" So I began thinking of it in the same terms as I do with those unbelievers. Our perception of how close or far God is in our lives does not change the Truth that He is involved, to will and to work His perfect plan. Ephesians talks about how God blessed us in the heavenly realms, which are all under His divine sovereignty - even when we can't see or feel Him -  his Spirit is there with us, for His pleasure and Glory. (Eph. 1:1-14) Any benefit we are missing is because we are not resting in the knowledge of what is true, everyday, all the time, wherever we are. Sometimes what we need is to ask for the eyes to see.

Lord, help me today, to remember that however changeable and fickle I am, You are steadfast and unmoving and here beside me, always...

About Lazarus

The message from Sunday's sermon a few weeks back struck me when it talked about Jesus' intentional delay in healing Lazarus (see John 11). Even more than Job, Mary and Martha's experience mirrors our own when we are going through trials. The pastor kept saying that these women were essentially asking "what are you good for, Jesus, if you won't come when we call and heal, as we know you could?" The answer, Pastor said, lies in the fact that Jesus' purpose wasn't to make things right in this life, but to show us His plan which is ever so much broader and bigger than this life. He didn't come to hold off death, or illness or pain, but to overcome them with life - true, eternal life! John 10:10b "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" KJV

We can look at it this way, Mary and Martha already believed. Their faith in Jesus was sure, even in the resurrection to come in the last days, but Jesus wanted as many as possible to see that He has the power over death and hades. He waited, so that the dead being raised at His word is what they would remember about that day.

The story of Lazarus , in a tiny example, is just what Jesus' work on the cross was, not considering the pain of the cross, for the ultimate goal and glory of saving us all. Hebrews 12:2b "because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." NLT

Lord, help me when I get so focused on my circumstances here on earth that I forget that your kingdom has come and I can live it right here and now if I  only keep my eyes on you, amen.