Close To God

There is really no feeling like walking in the places where Jesus walked during His life and ministry on this earth.  While I was in Israel this month, I sought to let my mind go back to the times when Jesus walked the same paths I was walking.  As in the picture above, I touched the water he walked on, and imagined His sandaled feet passing over the road where I was stepping.  There’s nothing mystical or magical about it – I think the word would be sobering.  

It sobered me to think that He came.  He left heaven for a life that would be mocked, disbelieved, and misunderstood.

He came to heal, raise to life, provide bread miraculously, to touch, to care, and to love so much that He would be crucified for my sin.

That is a sobering thought that made me love Him even more.

As I walked through the Garden of Gethsemene and saw the Olive trees, I imagined Him praying for the cup He was about to drink while His disciples slept.  As I looked at Golgotha, I envisioned Him dying on the cross.  When I entered the Garden before the tomb, I saw Mary looking for her Lord and I heard Him call her name.

Does it take a miraculous meeting in the Garden to be close to God?  Does it take a trip to Israel to experience the blessing of His nearness? Of course not! Even when I am home in the states, He calls my name as I open His Word, just as He called Mary’s name in the garden.  He speaks to me.  He cares for me.  He provides for me.  He lives for me.

That is a sobering thought that should make us realize that He is near to us every single day as we walk in His Word, as we pray, as we think on Him and invite Him into every situation we face. This very same Jesus lives to change each of our lives!

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.