Sermon Central
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So Close, And Yet So Far
Contributed by Ron Hicks on Aug 16, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: On judgment day, many will recognize God’s voice, then realize just how close they were to Him and yet was so far away.
SO CLOSE, AND YET SO FAR
Eph 2:13
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Sitting across the table from Him was Judas. (Been with Jesus throughout His entire ministry, leaves the table, sneaks out into night to betray Him)
Wasn’t he close to Jesus? Yes, so close and yet, so far.
Many sitting under His teaching.
Sermon on the Mount.
Other meetings.
They heard words of love, life, and deliverance.
They were at His feet and yet so far away.
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
This guy knew the Word inside and out and was sitting right in front of God and was still too far. So close and yet so far.
How many were physically touched by His hands? (Ten lepers and so far away)
Holding Him with expressions of gratitude and yet so far away.
Here’s the thief hanging on a cross beside Him? Tell me, how much faith needs to be demonstrated in someone else’s life to make you a believer?
Here’s Pilate investigating and analyzing Him.
Troubled and perplexed about His identity and His deity. He obviously had some degree of belief about Christ identity, had Him within arm’s reach and still delivered Him up.
Walking around Him, examining Him,
Who could of had better opportunity to bow before the King of Kings? So close, and yet so far.
Look at the crowd that was on the verge of a riot and demanding His crucifixion. They followed Him from the fishes and loaves, the healing and the love that they received, all the way to Calvary, mocked Him and sat down and watched His blood flow down the cross, watched Him die. That close and just couldn’t get it.
Look at the Roman soldier. Probably had some of Jesus’ blood splattered on him, even confess that He was the Son of God, but there is no other evidence that this soldier ever received Christ as Savior.
How close does God have to come to us, how much love does He have to demonstrate before we believe?
How much more convincing could the Apostle Paul been, telling his story about how Jesus came into his life? But all Agrippa could say to Paul was,
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
29 Paul replied, "Short time or long — I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room,
NIV
People today:
Go to church
Sing in the choir
Offer their services and money to the church
Witness great Spiritual moves (The very presence of Christ)
Close but not close enough.
How about you?
You’ve done most of the above.
Come to church
Sing in the choir
Offer your services and money to the church
Witness great Spiritual moves (The very presence of God)
Have you had the blood of Jesus applied to your heart,
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Have you truly repented of your sins?
