A couple, who had been married for twenty years, was driving home in their pick-up. The wife decided to slide next to her husband and lovingly said, “Remember when we used to sit close like this all the time?” Without missing a beat, the husband replied, “I didn’t move.” Our Heavenly Father can say the same thing to us.
How many times have we heard someone say, “Where was God?” when something goes very wrong. He usually is the first to be blamed – and not only by unbelievers, but believers as well. The quickest and most honest answer is, He hasn’t moved at all. He was even there when His Son, Jesus, was beaten, tortured and nailed to a cross because of our sins. To get even more personal – for My sins! (any emphasis is mine).
One thing we have to remember is the “Prince of this world” is Satan. He is the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), and ruler of this world (John 12:31). That does not mean he has absolute control and full power, but only to the degree God allows him to operate. He has domain over unrepentant unbelievers, but not believers.
Colossians 1:13-14, “He delivered us from the power of darkness (Satan), and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Looking at 1 John 5:18-19, “We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one He has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole word lies in the power of the evil one.”
This doesn’t mean we will never sin, but when we do, we have 1 John 1:8-10 to guide us for forgiveness.
Then there’s 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, among whom the god of this age (again, Satan) has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, so that they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.”
God is there for us, but will not force Himself on us. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13), and God will not abandon His own. He knows our hearts, and who is sincere in calling on Jesus and who is only “play-acting.”
For some Biblical references:
Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Isaiah 40:29, “He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the word.”
Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will hold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 54:10, “Though the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you.”
James 4:7, “Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord Himself goes before you, and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.”
Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong, and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Romans 10:9-10, “If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord; and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you.’”
Matthew 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 John 3:1, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us, is that it did not know Him.”
God gave us a “Love Letter” made up of 66 individual books: Old and New Testaments written by about 40 Holy Spirit-inspired men (2 Peter 1:20-21). He wants more than anything for us to repent, confess our sins, and accept His Son as our Savior. He is patient and wants no one to fail (2 Peter 3:9), but one day will finally send Jesus to call the believers Home. This will be to keep His promise to keep the faithful from the Wrath that the Father will pour out on this earth in a 7-year tribulation.
God is where He always has been; and the only sin He will not forgive will be to not accept Jesus before leaving this earth. Once a person has taken their final breath here, their eternity is sealed. He has a special place made for Satan and his demons (fallen angels) called the Lake of Fire. It will start being populated with the anti-christ of the tribulation and the false prophet (Revelation 19:20).
Then, at the end of the millennium, there will be a final judgment (White Throne), and Satan and all demons and unbelievers from the beginning of time will join those two, and be there forever (Revelation 20:11-15). Some false preachers are telling their congregations that Hell is not permanent, but they will be shown their error in the end.
When all believers leave this earth, either by death or through the Rapture, we will find that the Father has been with us all along. There will be an eternity for us that will be more wonderful than we can ever imagine. Never again will there be any illness, disabilities, temptations, death or anything negative. Just love and fellowship with everyone there forever. Most exciting of all, we will be in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus!
So, if you have moved away from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I would advise you to return to Him before it’s too late.
Shalom