To Encourage You

Philippians 4:4 “The Lord is near.”

On Sunday our pastor reminded us of a verse that I’ve been thinking about ever since.  It’s the one above from Philippians 4. Just four words: “The Lord is near.”  But oh, if we could get hold of the truth of these words, how it would transform our lives.

You see, the apostle Paul wrote these words from a stinking Roman prison.  From that perspective, the things he said before and after those four words are no less striking:  “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. the Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  It’s the awesome realization of the wonderful truth that, though he couldn’t see Him with his physical eyes, Jesus was nevertheless right there with him, that Paul could say everything else he said.  Although he was suffering in isolation in that prison cell, he could rejoice and likewise encourage us to do the same.  It was because the truth that Jesus was right there with him that he could say “don’t be anxious about anything.” Rather he tells us to “Pray about everything.” No wonder he says this, because if the Lord is really near, we might as well talk to Him, for it’s so rude to ignore our company! 

One of the names for Jesus in the Scriptures is “Immanuel.” The name means “God with us.”  As our pastor spoke on Philippians 4, he asked us to imagine that everywhere we went, at every moment in our life, Jesus was right there beside us. He asked us how that might change our attitude about so many things if we really believed it.  But the glorious fact is, it is true, for God has told us repeatedly in His Word that it’s true. 

As Jesus condescended from His omnipresence as the King of all the universe to be born of a woman and confined for a time to a human body, He likewise relegated Himself to be at only one place at a time.  When he was with the apostles, traveling with them and teaching them, it was such a wonderful experience for them.  But what about the others who weren’t with Him?  Certainly, there were things they didn’t experience that the apostles did.  But recall that Jesus told His apostles shortly before His death and subsequent ascension to His throne in heaven, “It is to your advantage that I go away” (John 16:7). And why did He say this?  The answer: “for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.” Here Jesus was promising His followers that He would soon send His Holy Spirit to be with them forever.  Wonderfully, the Holy Spirit is not limited by the physical.  He isn’t in only one place at one time as Jesus was when He walked the earth. No, He is omnipresent. He’s as present in North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam as He is with you and me here in the USA.  He’s as present when we “walk beside the still waters” as when we are “in the valley of the shadow of death.” He’s right there with us, just as He was with Paul, and that truth changes everything. 

You see, if you are a Christian, the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator of the universe is right there with you every moment of every day. He’s knows everything about you. He is acquainted with all your ways (Psalm 139:3).  If we know this and if we really believe this (and why shouldn’t we, since it’s the absolute truth), there is never any reason to be anxious about anything. If we know this and believe this, there is always a reason to rejoice. 

Immanuel: God with us. May God bring this wonderful truth to the forefront of our thinking each and every day.