Move in a Little Closer

Back in the day, I remember my little boy standing up next to me as I drove our 1964 Chevy Impala. If I had to stop quickly, my arm would fling out like an albatross across him. That was the seat belt before there were seat belts. To this day, I still have that reaction when I’m driving. My passengers laugh when my arm reaches across them. Thank God for His protection to my little ones before seat belts.

Also, back in the day, before we were married, I would sit as close to my sweetheart as I could because there was no console that separated us in that Chevy. Lots of snuggles then – especially parked near the Dallas Love Field Airport, watching the planes land or take off. That’s where we dreamed about our future together, and quite honestly, didn’t really pay that much attention to those planes at all. We only had eyes for each other.

I remember a story of an older couple who also had a car without a console, but she was sitting right next to the door and not close to her husband. Martha, the wife, pined: “Oh I remember when we sat so close together. It was wonderful.” Charlie, the husband, replied: “Well, Martha, I’m sitting where I’ve always sat. You’re the one who moved!”

I wonder if God feels like Charlie and Martha. Oftentimes, we just don’t have those intimate and connected feelings toward God like we once did. We fall in love with the One Who gave His life for us. We can’t get enough of Him. He offers peace, joy, fulfillment, even His grace and mercy to us and we become so happy with our relationship with Him.

We stay in constant communication with Him. We sense Him everywhere. We hear His still small voice and even feel His gentle nudges that push us to where we should go. He is like a Shepherd to us, and we want to stay inside His fold. It is an intimate relationship, and we just want more and more time with Him.

We read His Word and it is rhema (living and active) Word to us. We are so deeply in love with Jesus that we can’t keep quiet about this relationship. We tell others that they should become acquainted with Him, too! We invite them to church with us and we even see tears coming from their eyes. We know they are falling in love with Him, too!

But, then one day, we get busy – so busy that we slack off in our relationship with Him. We don’t read God’s Word like we once did. We find excuses for not going to church or having fellowship with other believers. We start hanging out with those who find God boring and we let their doubts and unbelief set into our hearts. Life happens and we forget the ONE Who gave us “abundant life” (John 10:10). In essence, we move closer to the door of the car.

We feel like God is so distant from us. Like Charlie said to Martha and like God says to you and me “I never moved. I’m right here where I always was. You’re the one who moved.”

If this blog happens to be hitting home with you today, please snuggle back into the Lover of your soul, the One Whose faithfulness and lovingkindness is stronger than ever. His arms are open wide. He’s inviting the prodigal to come home. He has a welcome feast beyond compare ready and a robe to wrap around you. Come home. It’s supper time. You who are weary, come home!