Closing the Distance
Whoever wrote the original line “Absence Makes the Heart
Grow Fonder!” was never on the receiving end of a ‘Dear John’ letter.
Tens of thousands of military men can attest to the fact that distance
between sweethearts is just as likely to cause estrangement as
endearment. In the biblical narrative, distance
became a factor early on between the First Couple, Adam and Eve. Satan
waited for the opportune time to tempt Eve. It was when there was
distance between them that he took the occasion to pitch to Eve the
‘virtues’ of disobedience. After the distance between them was closed,
Eve shared her experience with Adam. It was then he realized that the
PHYSICAL distance between them had translated into SPIRITUAL
distance. It was then Adam had a critical
choice to make. “Do I close the distance between Eve and myself and
cast myself upon the mercy of God, or do I cut her loose?” We know how
the story ended. Adam joined his wife in disobedience, so that by one
man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and death, both
spiritual and physical, passed upon all men (Romans 5:12). The
story of Jesus coming into world to save fallen men from sin and death
is the story of God closing the distance between himself and sinners.
He sojourned on earth for 33 years, tempted in all points as we are,
yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). On the
cross, Jesus the God-Man became sin for us, who knew no sin, that we
might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). The
act of faith in Jesus on the sinner’s part enables God the Father to
close the distance that sin created, making him a son. The
scripture teaches us that Satan, like a roaring lion, roams about the
earth seeking for believers he might devour (1 Peter 5:8). The most
vulnerable are those in whose lives he’s managed
to create distance with the scriptures. Those believers who spend
a portion of every day devouring the word of truth are the least likely
to be devoured by the enemy. It’s a matter of devouring or being
devoured! At some point, all of us sinners shall die.
Death creates distance between the soul and the body. For the believer,
however, death closes the distance between him and the Lord Jesus. For
to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, which is far
better (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). Distance
can be a friend or a foe. Let’s make it a point in life to create and
close distances in all the right places. One day soon, Jesus is going
to close forever the distance between himself and his Church. Are we
ready?
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