This was a personal revelation God gave me, and I thought I would share what He expressed to me personally. Perhaps it resonates with someone else as well…

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You…”- Psalm 139:7-12

God is always near.

Now, there are many individuals who will boldly admit that they are spiritually lost to some degree…meaning, they are on a (seemingly unending) pursuit of knowledge, understanding, purpose, fulfillment…identify. Ever heard the phrase, “I’m just trying to find myself,” or asked yourself, “Who am I…really?” These individuals tend to zip through life in hot pursuit of these things, but continuously find themselves bouncing around from place to place, person to person, or experience to experience. Many report experiencing brief moments of fulfillment, joy & happiness in their life; however, shortly thereafter…they find that their tank is back on “E” once again. And thus, begins the pursuit (the cycle)…all over again.

Now, In most cases, God never even enters their mind as a viable option. In Fact, He’s often not anywhere on their radar. That’s where we (those who have a personal relationship with God) are called into action. If we don’t slow down in our own busy pursuit of achieving the next step in our life, we too will zip right past these individuals who are fervently seeking answers we may already possess. If we won’t slows down to meet these individuals right where they are, in their current stage of life, many could continue walking right past God, oblivious to His presence and ability to work in their lives in unimaginable ways. Romans 10:14-17 says,

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Jesus further notes in Matthew 9:36-38, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”

Now, I don’t mean pouncing on the 1^st unsuspecting “questioning” individual that crosses your path to thump them over the head with a bible and cram countless scriptures down their throat. Besides being arrogant and rude, its ineffective and counterproductive. What I do mean is…offering a listening ear, or sharing a personal testimony of how God was able to help you in a similar situation in life, showing them sincere love, displaying compassion and a genuine concern and interest in their welfare, etc. It’s very possible, that the God they knew of or were told about as a child, is very different than the gracious and merciful God we serve. The God who only asks that you come as you are. In other words, there is no need to try and “clean ourselves up” before coming to God or calling out to Him. In fact, 1 Chronicles 28:9 says, “…for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you…” And furthermore, God did not come for the righteous (those who “appear” to have it all together), but the unrighteous.

Now, that means ALL of us, for “…For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:22-23  “…there is no respect of persons (no partiality) with God.” (Romans 2:11). In other words, one person’s poor choices or mistakes are no better (or worse) than another person’s mistakes….sin is sin. Fortunately though, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners…’” – Luke 5:31-32

So, keep in mind that who we choose to acknowledge and interact with today, will have an impact on someone’s future. On the same token, who we choose to overlook or pass by, will also have an impact on someone’s future. Take time today to invest in someone’s future. God bless!