Running Toward Or Running Away

I remember growing up in our home how we would have to watch the number of long distance calls we made. A few minutes here and there would really add up! Now with various calling plans, we can now call people who were once considered long distance with no extra charge.

God is tired of having long distance relationships with His people. He was tired of it in Moses' day and He is tired of it today. He wants intimate, close encounters with us so that when people walk through the doors of our home, they feel His presence and begin to weep with wonder and worship Him the moment they enter.

Exodus 20:18 says, "And all the people saw the thundering, and the lightning, and the noise of the trumpet and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed and stood afar off." It's obvious what the people did, isn't it? Verse 21 says, "And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was." One ran in and the other ran away!

God was wanting the once close relationship He had with them before when they used to walk in the cool of the desert, when they used to sit and share His heart with them. God wanted more than just a long distance relationship with them but they said in verse 19, "let not God speak with us, lest we die." By running away, they were stating they weren't ready to live up to what God wanted for them.

It is a sad reality that many Christians don't have a real sense of the everlasting presence of God because they refuse to clean up the clutter in their lives. While God is calling them up to the mountain, they run in the opposite direction.

(Barbie's speaking is filling up fast for the last quarter & inquiries are being taken now for 2012. If your church or organization is interested in booking Barbie, please go to www.barbiebassett.com ).