God With Us

Jeremiah 23:23 “Am I a God at hand,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?”

Did you know that there are video cameras all over the place keeping watch over the citizens? I don’t say this in order to cause paranoia, but only to help us remember that because of security reasons, we are constantly being monitored. It’s really a strange feeling, knowing that we are being watched.

Some people feel that way about God. They see him as a distant, divine police officer waiting to catch us slipping up. Then, when the day of judgment comes, we’ll sit in a room and he’ll play back all of the tapes. What a sickening feeling! Can you imagine having to relive all of the highlights, lowlights and horrible-lights of your life while God sits there with crossed arms and raised eyebrows?

But that’s not who God is. He is a God-at-hand. This means that he is here and now, as well as then and later. There is no place that you can go that he is not. He’s everywhere. That could be a scary thing, but, for me, it’s extraordinarily comforting. There is no place that God is not. That means wherever I go, He is with me. He’s not with me with a divine checklist like a driver’s ed instructor. He’s with me as a guide and comforter. He is with me as a protector and provider.

He is a God-at-hand. He is a God made flesh. He is a God with us. Immanuel. Jesus. He is a God who knows our every need and has promised to provide daily bread. He is a God who in every way is as human as you and me, yet is without sin. He is a God who died on the cross to be the final sacrifice and He is a God who rose again to life everlasting.

God promises to you and me that when our sins are forgiven, he remembers them no more. He forgives and forgets. So he keeps no record of our sins. Will you sit in a room and watch your life in replay? No, because a life lived is a life lived. God does not keep your sins on tape.

Heavenly Father, what a comfort it is to know that you are at hand. You are not a God who is far away, but one who is right here with us. You showed yourself to us in your son, Jesus. Through his life, death and resurrection, you keep us close to you. In the Holy Spirit, you are nearer to us than we are to ourselves. Thank you for your forgiveness and your promises. In Jesus’ name, amen.