Have you ever looked up to the stars at night and thought, “There might be a God, but He’s way out there somewhere, in the distance.”
I had always felt it.
This distance.
All of my life—I felt out of sync with what was around me. Family. School. Church. God. Wherever I was, there was them, then there was me. Separate.
I don’t know why. Perhaps it is hidden in early events I cannot now recall. Anyway, forget the why. That isn’t what I want to talk to you about today. It’s the Who.
It’s this separateness I always felt from God—as though He was way too BIG, way too GOOD, way too whatever, for the likes of someone like me.
I think most of us (who believe there is a God) know that following “a God past finding out,” just ain’t easy!
I think I gave up on doing that very early in my life.
Thinking God was like everyone else, living in universes I couldn’t reach, or understand.
The distance was too great.
I was wrong of course, but many years of my life would pass before I learned that God is not out there somewhere, disinterested, unfeeling, or uncaring.
- He is an “up close” God.
- A “get in your business” God.
- A Father who takes His Fatherhood—mighty serious.
Like the day I decided to end my life.
That was “the day” I met up with My Father-God. My “Abba God” up close, and real, real, personal. And no, I don’t know why He did this, except to say that I now believe my separateness from Him; my belief that He didn’t care what I did, or what happened to me; had become unbearable for us both.
I suppose that is hard for you unbelievers to believe. (Yeah, I get it.) Still… I’m telling you right now, if you have hung-in with my story this far?
Oh, boy! I think out there somewhere is waiting for YOU, your own encounter with, Coram Deo.
Wikipedia says,
Coram Deo is a Latin phrase translated “in the presence of God” from Christian theology which summarizes the idea of Christians living in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God.
Sounds fancy doesn’t it? It’s not. It’s actually terribly simple.
Bible teacher R. C. Sproul explains it like this:
To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God. God is omnipresent. There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze.
To be aware of the presence of God is also to be acutely aware of His sovereignty. The uniform experience of the saints is to recognize that if God is God, then He is indeed sovereign. When Saul was confronted by the refulgent glory of the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, his immediate question was, “Who is it, Lord?” He wasn’t sure who was speaking to him, but he knew that whomever it was, was certainly sovereign over him.
Sounds all up-in-your-face starchy doesn’t it?
But what it actually means is God is everywhere, all the time, watching, knowing, and ready for an encounter with you. Probably when you least expect it. (Like me.) Like Paul on that Damascus road. He will get all up in your stuff.
Love does that—especially Perfect Love.
And trust me, you won’t have any smart alec answers to Perfect-Love if He shows up some day, barging into your confirmed unbelieving.
He will quite simply blow the doors off everything you thought you knew, or believed, about this God you trivialize, casually curse, or just hold in a sincerely doubting-disinterest, or contempt.
I wish I could adequately describe what this day will be like for you.
(When He shows up I mean.)
I can’t. Sorry. The closest I can come is to describe it is this: His Presence will have a jaw-dropping power and purity to it.
That is His holiness.
You really can’t imagine how awe-creating it is.
I guarantee you, you can’t kiss the floor fast enough!
You’ll want to come close in wonder, and run away and hide, all at the same time.
He will feel like liquid warmth, pushing out every bit of the cold, dead, darkness, surrounding you (which you weren’t even aware of) until His Love showed up and began to drive it out!
You will instantly realize: “The Dark” has zero power over Him!
He is Supremely powerful.
Always The One in control—of everything.
His Presence? Sweeps you off your feet emotionally, while arresting you forever, in its realness.
The memory of your experience won’t ever turn you loose. You won’t ever be the same. Can’t be the same. His coming into your space? Changes everything. He really shakes you up!
So, fair warning… distance is not the issue.
I believe His intention, is to do this more and more as our days grow darker and darker, and His returning comes closer and closer.
We’re all on a deadline. Him most of all—since only The Father knows the day and the hour His Presence will depart this world, and everyone will be handed over to the evil one. (Check the book. It’s in there.) He’s all about building His Church and finishing what He began on that Roman cross.
Which means that if He is pursuing you? (And Coram Deo says that He’s everywhere, all the time?) It means that He’s right where you are—right now. Relentlessly pursuing.
That’s Him. Wooing… you. For Himself. Here. Now.
Get ready. You’re next.
Women With Destiny 