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Return to God

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty. 4 Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.' But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.
 
Are you "away from" God? How can anyone be away from a sovereign God? We know that God is omnipresent, or everywhere present, so where could one go to escape him? Jonah tried to do that and he landed on a beach with a new perspective. David recognized, as a blessing, the fact that God knew everything about him, including his steps, thoughts and unspoken words (Psalm 139). 

It took king Nebucadnezzar seven years eating grass in the fields before he came to his senses and realized that it was God who was really the power behind his success. A king that never learned was Pharaoh, king of Egypt during Moses' time. He lost his first born after nine previous plagues had destroyed his country. 

Maybe you are like one of these people of the past. Maybe you don't know God. Or think that you don't know God. If this is you, look at the Bible book of Romans chapter one. There you will discover that you really do know God. You are just trying to fool yourself into thinking that you don't. 

If you are running away from God, and God really wants you, he will come after whatever the cost. You will be his, because you are his. If you want nothing to do with God, he may well just leave you alone. That is a frightening place to be. 

Paul wanted nothing to do with Jesus and the Way, which was what Christianity was first called. His mind was instantly changed when the glory of the risen Christ left him blind for three days. He went on to tell his story to kings. One king, Agrippa, thought that Paul was crazy thinking that he might be able to "convert" him in such a short time (see Acts 26.28). 

Whatever your case, realize that God is merciful but his mercy has limits. One day you will be in his presence looking into one of his record books. You'll either be searching frantically for your name or you'll be resting in his grace. 

Return to God now while you still can! 

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