TURN FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE

BUT IF FROM THENCE…(TURN FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE)

In Deuteronomy 4:21-31 Moses prophesied how the Children of Israel would corrupt themselves once they went into the promised land. Before they went in God already knew what the Israelites would do after they got there, yet he led them there because He keeps His promises.

God has already foreknown what we are going to do in our lives as well. He still does not withhold his love, grace, and mercy from us. There is nothing that we have done that has taken God by surprise. In Psalm 139:1-4 David spoke of how God had already searched him and known him; how God knows when he sat, when he stood; God knew his distant thoughts, was present and familiar with every step he took, how he behaved, and every word spoke. In the next verses he speaks of how there is no escape God even if he desired to do so.

In Psalm 139:15-16 David went on to tell of how God was present and knew of his creation, including the forming of his body parts, before he was created. God saw us in the same way: He has known each of us before we were even conceived and has never taken His eyes from us. Before we were born into this fallen world, He knew what we would do, say, become, be influenced by, our personalities, physical appearances, changes in our appearances, our strengths, any weaknesses and every thought we would have.

Proverbs 15:3 lets us know that God’s eyes are in every place, looking at the good and the evil. Although God knows our weaknesses, faults, failures, He continues to watch over us with a heart of love, mercy, and even pity. Psalm 103:13-14 tells us how God pities us, and he remembers that we are actually dust. Although He knows us well, even our faults, He has so much grace and mercy that He forgives us, washes us, and renews us if we desire to please Him. 2 Timothy 2:19 says the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: the Lord knows those that belong to Him, and let everyone that claims that relationship and calls themselves Christians stop sinning. 2 Timothy 2:22 tells us to run away from youthful lust and go towards righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.

As Christians we are called proceed toward “perfection” in Hebrews 6:1. But if we at any time turn away from God, He is willing to respond to repentance with forgiveness. Matthew 9:13 tells us that Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. Psalm 103:3 tells us that forgiveness is a “benefit”. Since God has no respect of persons (Rom 2:11), the benefits spoken of in Psalm 103:2-12 are available to all that fear Him: forgiveness of all our sins, redemption of our lives from destruction, a crown of lovingkindness, and tender mercies are to be had by all that seek Him. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is longsuffering towards us, it is not His will that any should be destroyed, but that we all repent.

God sent His son to redeem and restore us back to Him and He responds to repentance with deliverance and restoration. Psalm 130:4 tell us there is forgiveness from God. In Psalm 51:10, 12 the psalmist asks God to create in him a clean heart, and to renew a right spirit within him restore the joy of His salvation. He goes on in verse 14 to ask for deliverance from “bloodguiltiness”. No matter how serious we consider the offense to be, God is able to deliver, restore, and renew. Psalm 107:1-43 tells of how God satisfies the hungry soul with goodness, saves us from darkness, foolishness of sin, bonds of afflictions due to sin, spiritual death, destruction, and fear. 2 Samuel 22:17 says He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He wants us to be delivered from sin and its shame. Psalm 23:3 says He restores my soul…God never throws us away regardless of sins. God’s restoration is marvelous, but it is not hard. It requires faith, belief in His Word. Psalm 107:20 says He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. In Jeremiah 3:14 He says Turn, O backsliding children…for I am married to you. He goes on to speak of His plans for that backslidden nation: I will bring you all the way to Zion.

In Deuteronomy 4:21-31 when Moses prophesied what would happen to the children of Israel, he also advised them to turn back to and that if they sought the Lord their God with all their heart and soul, they would find Him. He told them that when (not if, but when) they were in tribulation, and all that he prophesied happened that if they turned to God and obeyed His voice, he would not forsake nor destroy them because He is merciful. God does not change (Malachi 3:6) and He is still a forgiving god. 1 John 1:9 tells us that God is faithful and just, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we confess our sins.

In the same way that He restored the children of Israel and David to positions of favor in the Old Testament, He will restore us if we turn from our waywardness. Maybe we have not been reading our Bible or praying in the way we know that we need to. Maybe we have something else that we need forgiveness for. God is standing by. We can turn to Him, come closer, abide under His shadow, and dwell in the secret place of Psalm 91. We must not harden our hearts when we realize we have slipped away, but yield to His plan of salvation so that we do not grieve God and fail to enter into the place that He has prepared for us (Hebrews 3:7-19).

So wherever we stand in our relationship with God “let us go on to perfection” in Him as we are told in Hebrews 6:1. If we have turned aside from following God let us “turn from hence” (from where we are) and run to Him. John 6:37-40 says if we come to Him, He will not throw us out, nor will we be lost, because it is God’s will that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will have everlasting life and be raised up at the last day. Psalm 107:43 says that whoever is wise and will observe these things (see Psalm 107:1-43), even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. Let us seek to understand the word of God, and live in His salvation. Let us seek him, building up ourselves in our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping ourselves in the love God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present your faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 20-25).

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