Near and Far

If our lives were a case study, if we were a lab rat, we would recognize obvious trends that result in consistent outcomes.
FAR: In the moment of temptation, we have a free will choice coming on the heels of expected symptoms. When we choose far (meaning: far from the will of God), it is a choice for and towards self. We choose to indulge our laziness, lusts, and sin. The instant fallout of this is DISCONNECT FROM GOD. Amazing though how this also trickles into disconnect from those closest to us. It’s as if we deplete instantly our compassion, love, and mercy focusing, instead, that energy into sin. Once we fall, attempts to restore those tanks end miserably. We are then empty of the presence of the Lord, and simply put: full of ourselves.
NEAR: When our energy is put instead to the storage tanks which only Christ can fill, then our desires for self fulfillment are limited, and promises of presence (Isaiah 11) are fulfilled. Literally, drawing near to Christ results in a physical experience of Him reciprocating drawing near to us (James 4:8).
Why would we ever choose far? What motivation is there for that? Why are we so much like Paul, who does what he does not want to do.
Lord: forgive us. Replace our empty, vain, pursuits and replace them with the filling of you.

- Matt Newman