Title When You're Near
1. Human life is always a series of suffering.
That's why the Lord said, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
It means toiling and carrying heavy burdens in human life.
The science and technology of the world is only getting higher and higher without knowing that it is high in the sky, and I don't know why the human life that leads it is so painful.
How many times in the world are we afflicted by natural disasters, floods, droughts, and earthquakes?
Seeing the reality of our country being burned down by a severe drought these days, we realize that there are very few safe zones in our lives.
A few days ago in Japan, I heard a report that a certain mentally ill entered an elementary school and stabbed a child to death, and the whole of the Japanese archipelago was in turmoil.
Schools are not a safe zone either.
Iran has become a social problem in our country as well, and we know that there have been some cases of suicide due to school violence not long ago, as well as murder.
Where can a safe life be guaranteed?
On the other hand, everyone says that it is difficult to make a living.
Among the people I know, I set up a meat shop and made a lot of investment, but these days, I saw that it was closed because it was not commercially available, saying it was mad cow disease or foot and mouth disease.
On the other hand, how many people have lost their jobs due to restructuring and are depressed?
It means that the world has become difficult for everyone to live on.
It would be great if we could live in a society where we care for each other and live for each other, but since the land is small and the population is large, it has become a society of competition wherever we go.
Everywhere you go, you have to stand in line to wait your turn, even to go to the bathroom, you have to stand in line, you have to stand in line to drink water, and you have to wait in line to eat, so it seems that there are too many people. So they try to get ahead.
That's it! Some people emigrate because of the cost of private education because they have to dress, feed, and educate like everyone else.
Like the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, who all lowered their nets to catch fish all night long, there must be many people who lit up the night with their eyes open last night.
However, because they are not satisfied with their wishes, there are worries, conflicts, frustrations, and despair.
How should we believers live in this field of life?
This is an important issue.
2. We who live by faith must first meet God.
It is difficult to believe in God without meeting God.
We must meet God, but we must meet personally in our lives.
If we do not meet God personally, but meet emotionally, fantastically, or only with mystical things, our religious life will not be life faith.
While I still know God as knowledge and talk about God theoretically, God cannot change my life.
We must meet God, but we must meet Him personally in our lives.
Because God promises to find those who seek Him.
Today's text says, "Seek the Lord while he may be found, and follow him while he is near."
When will you be able to meet God, and when will you be near?
As we think about this together today, we would like to share the grace.
There are times when we encounter God in our lives. There are definitely times when you will be close.
We must not miss that opportunity.
If you miss the time, you will regret it.
Opportunities are not always given.
And everyone gets a chance once or twice.
In our daily life, we have to study when we study. If you miss the opportunity, you will only regret it.
And when you get married, you must also get married. Just as we regret missing such an opportunity, there are times when God is close to us in our religious life.
This time should not be missed. You must cry when you are near.
Just as the blind men of Jericho heard the news of Jesus and passed by, they cried out and were healed, so we must meet when God is near.
3. On what occasions can we meet and when is God close?
In a broad sense, God is always with us, but often we just don't realize it.
However, according to the Bible, ??God is near when we are broken. (Psalm 34:18)
Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
When we are broken, we need to realize that God is near.
When are you offended?
I get hurt when things don't go the way I wanted them to.
I am offended when my request is not fulfilled.
It hurts me when things don't go as I prayed.
On the contrary, it is a time when God is closest to me.
However, in most cases it is easy to think the opposite way. When we are hurt, we know that God has left us.
So there are cases where even people who believed well go out into the world.
There are many cases where they do not even attend worship services and are lying in bed at home.
Most of the time, I drink alcohol.
We should not drink alcohol and come to God and pray.
?쏷he Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.??
To contrite at the center, it is not without tears
Tears need to melt your heart.
During tearless prayer, there is nothing to blow but dust.
As if these days, what kind of sprout of life will sprout from a dry field?
When we pray with tears, the movement of life takes place in the field of our hearts.
Just as the rain moistens the dry ground, the God who was not seen in the prayer of tears becomes visible.
You will see that God, who was far away, is near.
I read an article that a Christian writer lost his only son in a car accident and fell into despair for a while, blaming God and suffering. There is this.
You will hear the voice of God in the prayer of tears. And it gives you a fresh start.
??God is near when we sincerely ask. (Psalm 145:8)
Psalm 145:8 says, "The Lord is near to all who ask him, to all who ask him in truth."
What does it mean? It is not a vague prayer. Even supplications can be made false.
When you see people who deceive others these days, you don't know how falsely they disguise the truth.
An naive person is easy to be deceived.
But in the sight of our God, that doesn't work.
He reveals to those who sincerely ask for it, whatever path it takes.
The purpose is clear to those who sincerely ask. When that truthful request is in harmony with God's will, all things will come true.
In fact, if you think deeply, God is not a God who listens to our requests. He is the God who leads us to understand and know His will to accomplish His will.
Sometimes our thoughts and God's thoughts can be different.
Sometimes God makes me realize through my pain.
Through suffering, you get better things. That is a spiritual blessing.
If we hadn't lost our possessions, there would still be people who had no choice but to live a life of debauchery, not knowing Jesus or God.
Losing property is a pain. Frustration. Sometimes despair. But in the midst of such suffering, God was close to me, and today, what is it other than believing in Jesus and coming to this place to worship?
Dear saints!
Do you have any broken hearts?
I hope you believe that God is closest to you no matter what your heart is broken by. Let's never get angry. Never blame God with harsh words. If it's too hard, please stay for a while.
And I hope you will make up your mind and pray sincerely once.
Why are you giving me this pain?
What are you trying to say to me in this pain and tragedy?
If you face God with such a sincere heart, you will surely hear it.
I met God on Easter day in 1968.
Before that, I was the God of my parents, the God of Sunday school teachers, and the God of knowledge I learned and knew, not the God I met in my life.
I still have new memories. There was a meeting of international students in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, during the week of Easter vacation, and I attended the meeting. I got into a car driven by an Indian student and was driving back to school.
As a result, my arm fell off, and I was taken to the hospital by an ambulance, covered in blood. When I woke up from the surgery, I was filled with many emotions. Why did God make me this way? On the one hand, it was resentful, but on the other hand, sincere prayer came out.
Dear saints!
We must meet only when we meet God.
You must cry when you are near.
Therefore, I sincerely hope that all the saints who have met God personally in life will walk with Him for the rest of their lives. ??