By Bob Bunn
Scripture Reading: Psalm 80:1-19, Psalm 81:1-16, Psalm 82:1-8, Psalm 83:1-18, Psalm 84:1-12, Psalm 85:1-13
Sometimes, when we’re stuck in traffic, a destination is never as close as it appears. Gridlock means a trip of just a few miles can take twice as long as it should. Between road work and fender benders, just getting out of the neighborhood can feel like a win.
We’ve all faced days when it feels like every car manufactured in Detroit stands between us and our goal. In stop-and-go traffic, we’re forced to measure success by the distance and arrival time listed on a GPS. In my mind, the trips take forever. I look at my watch and wonder if I’m really making any progress. My goal still seems so far away.
Thankfully, the Bible reminds us that salvation is not like that.
The sons of Korah, a group of musical leaders in ancient Israel, are credited with writing several psalms, including Psalm 85. They recognized that God is always a lot closer than many of us can see or will admit. They knew that His salvation “is very near those who fear him” (Psalm 85:9).
In ancient Israel, God’s cloud of glory hovered over the tabernacle in the wilderness. When it moved, they moved. When it lingered, they lingered. His presence—His glory—served as a reminder that He was near and that He cared for His people.
God wants the same thing for His people today. More than anything, God will bring glory to Himself. He has made His salvation readily available to those who will come to Him. And by living in and working through His people, His glory continues to “dwell in the land” like it did centuries ago.
Instead of being some distant, almost unreachable destination, the Lord’s deliverance is near. Instead of requiring Herculean tasks to prove our loyalty, God is simply looking for humble confession and sincere faith. Since the beginning of time, He has made a habit of responding to those who call out to Him. He never denies a sincere cry for help, and He never wastes time with games of spiritual “hide and seek.” His salvation is near for anyone who reaches out to Him. In fact, God sent Jesus to live, die, and rise again so we could see just how close He is.
If God feels far away, it’s because we’re not seeing Him as He really is. We’re not focusing on His character or His promises. Our sin and our circumstances have warped our perspective.
Thankfully, Lent is a great time to readjust our spiritual vision. It’s a time when we can seek God honestly—and discover that He’s been with us the whole time. His salvation is very near.
Written by Bob Bunn
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