By Mrs. Sunshine Stahl, Associate Pastor, Seventh-day Adventist Chinese Church, December 11, 2010
This is the first sermon I heard here in Singapore. It was my second week in this foreign country and my first time to attend church here. Such sermon is very significant to me as I am new here and I don’t have any relative to run to. This holy Name of my God is a great promise to me: THE LORD IS THERE for me always! (Note: Personal reflections are added.)
“…And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.” Ezekiel 48:35
We are more familiar of this city with the name Jerusalem. Jerusalem is said to be the city of peace. God so loved this place as His Son, Jesus, is the Prince of Peace.
In the book of Jeremiah, God expresses His desire to live with men (Jeremiah 30:22, 31:33). His other Name, Immanuel which means the Lord with us, also shows how much He yearns to walk and commune with His people.
God is there! Amidst this turmoil many nations are facing – great floods, landslides, war, crisis, corruption, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, violence, death – people in their human nature tend to ask where God is. But –
God is there! It’s just that He implicitly hides His face or else we’ll be burned in His glory.
Since man’s inception, God is always with men. In the wilderness, He walked and talked with the Israelites through a cloud at daytime and a pillar of fire at night. (Speaking of cloud, I really felt God’s closeness that Sabbath day as I searched a church. Singapore’s weather is always hot and that day is not spared. I only have $30 at hand and I am afraid to take the MRT, taxi, or bus thinking that my money is not enough and it’ll be my first time. Besides, I needed to walk to be more familiar with the place. As I was preparing to go out, I looked out of the window and saw people walking with umbrellas to protect them from the scorching sun heat. I have no umbrella but I was determined to go out. While walking, I looked up and saw clouds covering the sun. God is really good!). They set up a tabernacle so that the Lord can dwell among them.
For His love to man, God sent His Son who was born and dwelt among us (John 3:16). Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, His birth was prophesied. The prophet Isaiah mentioned that He shall be called Immanuel (7:14). From this, “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us…full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus is the Word who instructs us the right way.
And when the Lord is with us, it is heaven. Countless blessings are poured upon us. We may face adversities but being with Him gives us peace and contentment.
To be with God is to renew thy self. Renewing is done every day and not just a single day. We need to pray to Him daily, praising Him and acknowledging His presence in our lives.
Why is God ‘out of reach’ now?
There are really tough times when we can feel that God is out of reach. Let’s learn from our forefathers, the Israelites. In the years 605-608 BC, they were taken captives by Babylon. Ezekiel was one of them. After five years of captivity, God gave him a vision. The reason of their captivity was shown before him – all because of idol worship and rejection of God’s ordinances (Ezekiel 3, 5:5-6). Ezekiel saw in his vision that his people turn their backs toward God’s sanctuary, facing the east and worshipping the sun (Ezekiel 8:16). (This rings a bell to me. I’m sorry to all SUNday-keepers.). Thus, the glory of the Lord departed from them.
If we feel like God is far, let’s examine ourselves. We may be keeping an idol in our hearts. We should remove it.
Also, do we FULLY obey God’s precepts? God has only 10 commandments; do we do what He said we should do? Not do what we should not do? Remember and keep the day He rested on, sanctified, and blessed? Honor whom we should honor?
The Lord ‘is not here’ because of our hardened hearts, because we don’t love Him (see, if we love Him, we should keep His commandments-John 14:15); we don’t obey Him.
Ezekiel 11:18-20 tells us to return to our Lord and remove all vile images and detestable idols so that He will give us undivided hearts, put a new spirit in us, remove from us our heart of stone, and give us a heart of flesh. We should follow His decrees and BE CAREFUL to keep His laws. This way, we will be His people, and He will be our God.
That’s how our heavenly Father loves us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), rose up to heaven to prepare a place for us and promised to return and take us to BE WITH HIM (John 14:2-3).
Brothers and sisters, let’s take heed of God’s Words. Someday in the New Jerusalem, “the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3). Amen!
God’s Names:
Jehovah Jireh – forever
Jehovah Rapha – healer
Jehovah Nissi – banner (victory)
Jehovah Shalom – peace-Giver
Jehovah Rohi – Shepherd (protects)
Jehovah Tsidkenu – righteousness (bestows all good, reserves nothing)
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