Experiencing the closeness of god
12th March 2006 Jeremy Rutherford
Psalm 63
Story: Imagine the world is full of intelligent ducks. Think about one town, every morning all the ducks get up, clean their bills, put on their webbed feet, and waddle off to work in school or hospital or the office.
Then comes Sunday, when they are thrilled to go and worship the duck god. Up they get and waddle off to church. They love to worship their duck god, they sing in quacky language, the preacher gives a fantastic message about the duck who died for them. He flew towards the guns in hunting season, for them. The ducks love what they're hearing. The preacher says he didn't only die for them, he gave them wings and they can fly. The ducks go into uproar and flap their wings and they fly all round the church.
But after the service, after water and plankton with their friends, they waddle home.
Jeremy's message for us today is that we'll fly when we go home, not waddle.
What does it feel like when we're close to somebody: various answers were warm, content, secure, exciting.
How is it different when we ask the question what does it feel like to be close to God: answers included amazing, coming home, awesome, things which seemed important no longer seem so, accepted, peaceful. How about: does being close to God make us feel able to fly?
Psalm 62 v 8 I stay close to you and your powerful arm supports me
Palm 41 v 12 you have helped me
How do we get close to God: the word, prayer, being reliant on him, being open to him, worshipping him. He is always close to us, it's us who are distant.
Is it easy or hard to get close to God? It should be easy but in the world we live in and the way we live, we need to deliberately make time and space.
Is it easier or harder for non-Christians? Children have a close relationship with God even though they don't really understand and they don't have to make space.
We are charged with bringing God's presence close to those who are unaware of it. By talking, helping, laughing, crying, loving .... sharing our entire life. That's what Jesus did, he didn't hide away, he was himself with everyone.
The call is to us to be Jesus to our friends and neighbours. People will recognise something is us.
Consider what it is to be close to somebody. Think about just one person who you would like to see become a Christian, who you would like to worship alongside. Imagine what that would be like. Imagine what you would do to get to that situation, and pray into it.
May we fly as we leave this place. | 
