Near To God

 

Perhaps as you reflect on a year that is almost over you find yourself in a similar situation to Asaph in Psalm 73.

The psalmist complains there that God is unfair.  If he was writing his complaint today it would sound something like this:  There’s no point in serving God!  The bloke next door is a fitness freak with the build of Sylvester Stalone in 'Rambo'.  A dozen times a day he blasphemes God but he has never had as much as a toothache in his life.  He openly lies and cheats but it seems he has never had a care in the world.

Meanwhile I struggle with the disability I was born with.  I've always tried to please the Lord and live by His standards, but for me life seems to lurch from one crisis to the next.  In all my dealings I've struggled to be honest and above board but the problems in my life just won't go away.

God is unfair!  Well, okay, Asaph, in Psalm 73, doesn't quite say that.  But what he does say is that it doesn't pay to serve God and do the right thing.  When it comes to the godless and wicked, Asaph says, 'they have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.' (vs.4)  Yet he, the believer, is plagued and punished all day long (vs.14).  Why bother with the religion of the Bible?  It doesn't get you anywhere!

In other words, Asaph has huge problems with the ‘rose-garden’ image of religion – promoted by those who peddle a 'name it and claim it' brand of Christianity – where God is not supposed to want any of his children to be sick (...or poor!).  And where, if that should happen to be the case, then you had better look closely to see what unconfessed sin hinders God from blessing your life.

Asaph had a different view of reality.  Real life so often sees the unbeliever and the godless free from the normal aches and pains while the believer is stricken and wastes away.  Asaph doesn't have any easy answers to that dilemma.  God is supposed to look after His own isn't He?  Well... isn’t He?

It’s only when Asaph enters the temple sanctuary – in that context where eternal perspectives press for attention – only then do things begin to fall into place.  And then this lament about God's unfairness becomes a jubilant song of rejoicing in the grace of God.  “Flesh and heart may fail but God is the strength of my life.”

Many centuries later the apostle Paul too said that a 'name it and claim it' approach to Christianity doesn't necessarily work.  Instead in our sicknesses and weaknesses we have an opportunity to live out of the gospel of Jesus – or as Paul puts it – God’s strength is made perfect in weakness (1Cor.12).  And that’s just the amazing thing that we see so often.  There are people who, we would say, have had more than their fair share of suffering and troubles – but in their hardships they’ve experienced a special measure of God’s love and presence.  Where that’s the case the bottom line is always thanksgiving and rejoicing – even while the body perhaps wastes away with cancer or heart disease.  Asaph in Psalm 73 put it this way: As for me it is good to be near God (vs.28).

That’s the thing isn’t it?  The happy and healthy pagan may seem it have it much better and easier than the devout Christian who goes to church each Sunday.  But he doesn’t enjoy that wonderful assurance of the presence of God... and of course when he breathes his last it’s all over rover!  No!  Those who trust in Jesus don’t always have it easy but they do have that assurance that their Lord and Saviour will never leave them and never forsake them.  And when life in this sad world ends He will welcome them into His presence and eventually into the glory of His new creation.  That’s the comfort Asaph found in Psalm 73 and that can also be your comfort in the trials and tribulations of life when you put your trust in Jesus.

John Westendorp

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