Where Are You, God?

"Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are desperate need. Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name's sake. Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" (Psalm 79:8-10 NIV)

Not only are other nations questioning where our God is--those who claim to Believe are asking the same question. Of course the naysayers ask the question to belittle and ridicule Believers, but when Believers ask the question--we know the nation is truly in trouble. Why?

If Believers are asking God, "Where are You?" they have not understood just how close God is to those who Believe. It's not a source of amazement for the unbelieving to ask the question, for they do not have access to Him through right relationship to know the answer to the question, but certainly--Believers--who understand God's Word and are in right relationship with Him, should never ask this question. We know where He is--He dwells within us.

However the real problem is not in knowing where God is--since He is omnipresent--He is everywhere at the same time, but in knowing that He gives "all people free will" and will not force us to do anything. Therefore, anything we do--without specific direction from God is subject to failing or creating disaster.

Many people are asking, "Where is God when mentally disabled or challenged people shoot others?" God is right there in the midst of the shooting, but He will not force anyone to do what is right. So, the gunmen--in every situation--act without benefit of God's instruction and they are prey of the enemy who hates all of us and when he can influence the minds of others to do evil--since they don't believe in God anyway, they do evil.

But we must understand--in order to do evil--we must have a mindset that "desires to do evil" or the enemy would not have any power over us. People have to submit to the devil's influence just like they have to submit to God's influence. It is a free will choice we make when we choose to be influenced by any source.

So, now the question should not be, "where is God?" but rather where are we in a relationship with Him? Do we truly Believe or are we just religious, operating in rituals of out traditions that hold no true meaning of anything? I'm sure, when we stand before Him on the day we are judged, we're going to discover that God will have more respect for the naysayers than those of us who claim to Believe, but never had a relationship with Him. He's told us that He would rather we be--hot or cold--and not lukewarm because lukewarm, wishy-washy people make Him ill (Revelation 3:16 paraphrased).

Instead of us raising the question as to where God is, we should raise the question--where are we? I can imagine with all of the stupid things occurring in the world, that God is asking the question, "Where are my children who claim to know me?" Why would God ask this question? Because if we are His children, we would know how important communication with Him is and our obedience to Him. We cannot pattern ourselves after the world and the worldly way of doing things; He has called us to a standard of Excellence because He is Excellent in all His Ways and if we truly belong to Him, doing things His way should not be a burden to any.

Where are you, in your relationship with God? God is right here--waiting to embrace us in right relationship with Him.