proximity, continued...

The thing that keeps us, as human beings, from enjoying true proximity to God, is our sin.  The old bridge diagram is true.  There is a chasm between us and God and no amount of bridge-building on our part is going to get us to the other side.  We can't do enough good works, we can't earn enough credit to buy or build our way across to God.  It's like that scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  It will take a leap of faith.

The difference between the leap of faith Harrison Ford takes in the film and the one we take when we draw near to God is that more of our leap depends on God's faithfulness than on our ability to muster up enough courage and faith to jump.  We do need to take the step or leap of faith, but when we do we need not worry about falling to the bottom of the cavern.  There is no risk of life or limb for us today.  The real risk is remaining far from God; the real danger is in staying on our side of the chasm, refusing to take the leap.

After we come to faith, sin is still an issue.  Christ has dealt with our sin, but it can still wreak havoc with our lives and relationships with God.  We need not fear loss of our salvation or that God will take back his forgiveness and grace when we sin.  That is not who God is.  But make no mistake, our sin and disobedience still have the power to hinder our fellowship with God.  A pastor I once knew described it as a strand of thread wrapped around our shoulders.  One time around (one sin) and it's not so difficult to break the thread, is it?  We break that thread by confessing our sin to God, who graciously forgives us and renews the relationship.  However, if we go ten, twenty a hundred times without confessing our sin, the twine wrapped around our shoulders becomes more and more difficult to break, doesn't it?  At some point, it will be practically impossible, at least without help from someone else with a good, sharp knife.

That's the way sin continues to hinder our relationship with God, to make us feel distant from him.  It wraps around us and binds us; it holds us captive, until we find the courage and grace and humility to ask for help that the binding power of sin can be broken in our lives.

As we continue to celebrate this Easter season and Christ's victory over death and sin and hell, I pray you find the courage and humility necessary to see your sins for what they are, confess them to God and ask for his forgiveness.  We were designed and intended for proximity to God.  May nothing keep you from true fellowship with him!