Spiritual Distancing

I am an introvert so the social distancing edict that was pronounced does not effect me as much as Robin, who is an extrovert.  Every day as this law is in effect, I see the effect that is on Robin and the struggle she goes through.  For the most part, I am immune to this struggle.

However, this morning I am reminded that the struggle that Robin and others like her are going through in the world may not be much different than my struggle with my spiritual life.

I often feel like there is a huge spiritual distance between me and God.  The Psalmists’ cries of, “My soul is in deep anguish.  How long, LORD, how long…” (Psalms 6:3), “Why, LORD, do You stand far off?  Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble…” (Psalms 10:1), and “Answer me when I call to You…give me relief from my distress…hear my prayer” (Psalms 4:1) resonates within me.

As I reflect on our current condition, I am also reminded of how spiritual distancing began when God exiled man from the garden.  I am also reminded of how man has tried to get back to God and how futile it was because God has all of time and space to hide Himself in.

The Good News of Scripture is that God has closed the gap by sending His Son, Jesus.  Jesus is the bridge or “the way” back to the Father with the promise, “I am with you always.”

With this assurance from Scripture and Jesus, why do I still feel (at times) like God is still so far away?  Because the “pandemic” that is in the world is not over yet.  In Romans 8, Paul tells us that all of creation is groaning because the redemption of creation is not complete…So we groan.

Paul doesn’t stop there.  He brings more clarity by letting us know that the groaning of creation comes from the pains of childbirth.  In other words, we are in labor.  Yes, there will be stress, anxiety, worry, and fear.  However, Paul gives us an expectation with a vision of the end.  No, it will not end with a still birth, but with the “revealing of the children of God.”

Paul describes the climax of life a little differently to Timothy, but it sounds the same to me.  In II Timothy 4:8, Paul tells Timothy, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who have longed for His appearing.”

Isn’t this good news?  Doesn’t this help close spiritual gap a little?