You Have Been Brought Near to God

Isaiah 59:2 says our "iniquities have made a separation" between us and God. Our sin keeps us from enjoying fellowship with God. Many people say they feel God is so far away they cannot fathom why He would interact with mankind. Even some Christians do not feel close to God because of unrepentant sin or their prayer life does not match some other maturing believers. Deists believe that God is the creator of the universe but has no interaction with His creation. Some would make a good case they are distant from God.

I have got good news for those who feel God is distant. You can be brought near to God through Jesus. In Ephesians 2:11-12, Paul writes, "Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called 'the uncircumcision' by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." All of us have been separated from Christ because of our sin. We all know all have sin and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). God does not tolerate sin because God is holy. So how can sinners have fellowship with God and be closer to God?

Ephesians 2:13 answers that question: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Through his sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus made the way possible for us to be brought near to God. After His death on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from the holy of holies where only the High Priest went in to confess the sins of Israel and his own sins. We have access to God because of Jesus. 1 Peter 3:18 says, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit."

When you feel that you are not close to God, remember the gospel tells us that Jesus brought us to God through His death on the cross. Jerry Bridges once said in our good days and bad days we are never out of God's grace. Even when we struggle with sin or pray for 5 minutes, we are closer to God than we thank because of Jesus.