Is God far away?

The power we call God is the Creator who made everything from atoms to the spreading out of the galaxies. Most people for most of time have believed in such a being. Many have invented religions to try to impress or appease him. Religion has been a favourite way of controlling other people and even building kingdoms. But is our Creator interested in us? And how do we find him?

When the communists controlled Russia, scientists preserved the brains of some of their top leaders after their death for research. They wanted to discover the secret of their power. But wherever we look in the human body we will not find the 'person'. Although we have a body, as conscious beings we are also distinct from it.

God occupies space in much the same way as we do our body. He is in it but cannot be localised in it. Every part of space is accessible to him all the time. So he tells us:

"If you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart". (Deuteronomy 4:29)

The most astonishing event in all history was the birth, life, death and resurrection of a very special person two millennia ago in Roman-occupied Palestine, Jesus of Nazareth, the Jews' long-awaited Christ. He was the only man who ever claimed equality with God. As signs of his authority, he did wonderful things such as healing sick people, changing water to wine, walking on water and bringing dead people back to life. He wrote no book, but his teaching impressed those who heard him like no other's. Finally, he was killed by crucifixion, in fulfilment of numerous prophecies about him made long before his birth. Some of these said that his death was a necessary sacrifice in place of the punishment due to us for our wrongs (Isaiah 53:4-6).

Then, most astonishingly of all, after three days, he rose from the grave. Far from being a ghost, he now had a resurrection body. He could eat, and he could be touched, but he was not physically limited and appeared to many people in diverse places. On one occasion he appeared to a gathering of more than 500 people, some of whom were still living eye-witnesses at the time Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church.

To find out more about why Jesus came, try reading the Gospel of Luke, in the New Testament. Jesus calls everyone but forces no one. He wants disciples, not admirers. The reward is to know God now and to be with him in eternity. It can begin by talking to him here and now. We can ask for his forgiveness and for him to come into our lives, not as a lucky charm, but to help us do what we ought, to be servants in his kingdom. Then we will need to find a church where we can grow as a disciple. If the first one doesn't seem right, try another. The minister is not there to control people but to be a servant and care for his/her flock. If you really cannot find one, drop us a line and we will try to help.

        - Anthony Bush