Pastor's Perspective Articles:

April 2008: Elder Phil Steckmann
March 2008: Elder Ed Gann
February 2008: Elder Rob Wiggins
January 2008: Elder Dr. Steve Stephens
December 2007: Elder's Perspective
November 2007: Thankful for Broken Things
October 2007: God Rubs Off
September 2007: Have you ever gotten it wrong?
August 2007: Belize Journal, July '07
July 2007: What's the picture of the church?
June 2007: Making the Complex Simple
May 2007: Majesty

January 2008 - by Elder Dr. Steve Stephens

Draw Close to God

THE BOY WAS BARELY ALIVE
Dr. Winters was called at 1:00 am and told to rush to the hospital. His hands were the only ones in the city skilled enough to save the boy. Since every minute was crucial, he took a shortcut through one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of the city. At a stoplight a man in a dirty flannel shirt forced open the door, pulled him out of his seat, and ordered, "Give me your car!"

The doctor explained that he was on the way to the hospital for emergency surgery, but the thief wouldn’t listen. He took the car and sped off. Dr. Winters ran through the streets trying to make it to the hospital on foot. An hour later he finally made it. "You’re too late," the head nurse said. "The boy died about thirty minutes ago. His father is in the chapel. He can’t understand why you never came." Dr. Winters walked to the chapel and there, weeping at the altar, was a man in a dirty flannel shirt. The boy's father looked up at the doctor and in horror realized what he had just done. He had pushed away the only one in the city who could have saved his son.

How often do we do this to God? We push Him away for many reasons. Maybe we don’t have time for Him, we have blamed Him for some misfortune, or we just don’t think about him. Pushing God away, however we do it, is self-defeating. For the core of faith is drawing close to God. The closer we get, the clearer we see and the calmer we feel. Faith gives us confidence, strength and courage.

A day without God is severely limited. In fact, life doesn't even make sense without God. He gives us a purpose, and without a purpose we are like a ship lost on the ocean with neither a map nor a rudder. As actress Kathy Ireland says, "My faith is important. I have nothing without it." As I help people deal with the hurts and difficulties of life, I see even those who have no experience with God reaching up to Him. When we are alone or heartbroken, or overwhelmed, we yearn for closeness and comfort from the maker of all.

James gives us the simple solution to this deep yearning: "Come close to God, and God will come close to you." (James 4:8)

Drawing close to God allows us to draw close to all that is good. It enriches our every experience and brings meaning to everything, regardless of how adverse or obscure. As we intentionally seek him, we come to know him through a few precious and powerful glimpses of what is ultimately beyond our limited comprehension. The more we get to know him, the more we come to love and trust him. Then the only rational response is to follow him.

Altogether these five verbs draw us closer to God and deepen our connection with the infinite. We become attuned to his eternal voice with its wisdom and guidance and comfort. This alone makes life worthwhile.

Once Billy Graham was asked, "Of all the presidents and people you’ve met, of all the crusades and conferences you've held, of all the honors you’ve received, what was the highlight of your long and successful life?" Without hesitation, his response was that it was his time alone each day when he could truly draw closer to God. Everything else paled when compared to spending time connecting with the Lord and maker of the universe.

Dear God,
I yearn for you. Keep me seeking after you every moment of every day. Show me your face everywhere I go, and let me feel your presence. Thank you for wanting me to know you and for making yourself knowable. Forgive me for not trying to know you more. Open my eyes to your Word and your creation so that I might get a clearer glimpse of you. I love you and praise you for all you are. I praise you for your wisdom and the way you guide me when I stop to listen. I praise you for your love, which is more amazing than I can even begin to understand. Help me to follow you wherever you may lead me. Strengthen me as I learn to better obey, honor and imitate you As I work on drawing closer to you, thank you for your willingness to draw close to me.
Amen

Condensed from 20 Surprisingly Simple Rules and Tools for a Great Day (Tyndale Publishers, 2006)

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