One of the Questions that many people have who go through life’s difficult times is the question, Where is God? It’s a good question and a legitimate one. You have the right to ask it and I don’t think that God gets terribly upset when you do. After all, He knows how we are made and how we think - He made us. In fact the Bible says that God knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14). In other words, God understands you; He understands your fears, your worries, your concerns and even your anger. I believe that God even understands your anger when it’s directed at Him. So where is God when you need Him?
God is the same place He has always been – He hasn’t moved and He’s waiting for you to come to Him. His invitation to you is clear, Come to Me, everyone who labors and is deeply burdened and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29). If you are struggling with a tragedy today, God invites you to come to Him. How do you do that? How do you come to God? How can you and God have a relationship?
A lot of people think that they are OK with God if they:
- attend church
- were baptized
- are a good person
- give money to the church
- try to live a good life
- don’t swear/lie/cheat etc
- read their Bible
All of these things are important but we all know people who do these, and many more good things, but still feel empty inside. The reason they feel empty is because they are looking for God in all the wrong places. They are going about their relationship with God in the wrong way.
The Bible (God’s letter to us) says that there are four things that you have to do to have a relationship with God (be OK with God).
1. Recognize the Seriousness of Your Situation
Sin means that you cannot know God the way you should. It is what separates you from God – and we’re all sinners. It also means that God cannot accept us, in fact, we will have to pay for our sin.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory (what God expects of us) of God. Romans 3:23
The wages of sin is death (the price we have to pay). Romans 6:23
2. Realize the Love that God has for You
God’s love means that the penalty for sin was paid by Christ on the cross.
For God so loved the world (each of us) that He gave His only begotten Son. John 3:16
God showed His love for us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
3. Repent of Your Sin
Repentance means to agree with God that your sin is wrong and to turn away from (reject) it.
God commands all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30
4. Receive God’s Forgiveness
God is willing to forgive you and to receive you into His family. Will you ask Him to forgive you today?
For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:1
Now you are faced with a decision to either call out to God in repentance and faith or to walk away. This will be the most important decision you will ever make. My prayer is that you will receive God’s forgiveness through the person of Jesus Christ. It won’t make all of life’s problems go away but it will help you deal with them in a new light.
For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
