Several years ago I went to a play at the Wortham Theater Center here in Houston, and our group of five friends was seated so far back that we couldn't see the stage very well or hear the actors. I felt totally disconnected from the story. Unfortunately, we had only one pair of binoculars to share, so I had to wait and wait for them. When my turn finally came, I drew the binoculars up to my eyes, focused in, and just like that I was right up close and personal to the stage. I could see the expressions on the actors' faces, and I could hear them better because I knew which actor was speaking. What was once far away had been drawn close to me.
Experts say there are an estimated 7.6 billion people living on our planet. So often people feel as though they're all alone in this big world today, just one insignificant person among billions. They feel so far away from God and think He doesn't know where they are and what is going on in their lives. But I want you to know that no matter how you feel, you are up close and personal with God today. The apostle Paul says, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). It's true, you may have been far away from God in your life, but He has you in His sights! God has His binoculars focused on you, so to speak. He is in your story! He is on your stage! The distance between us has been closed through Jesus.
Many people think they need to change their lives before they can draw near to God. They need to clean up a few things. But we can't clean up our own lives. We can't bring the change that God wants to bring in our lives. He had to come to us through Jesus, and He has brought us salvation through Jesus' blood. Only Jesus Christ can change your life. There's no mess that you've made that He can't help you clean up. In Jesus, you are made right with God. There is nothing that God cannot do for you through Jesus Christ. There's nothing on the inside of you that would make you distant from God. He loves you just the way you are!
Whatever you're facing today, God wants you to know: "I'm right here. I'm an up close and personal God. Come close to Me and know that I will help you."