Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church (Youth group Bible Study)
Ledgewood, New Jersey
Senior B.Y.F.
May 21, 1991
FROM A DISTANCE
(Written by Julie Gold, performed by Bette Midler)
From a distance the world looks blue and green,
and the snow-capped mountains white.
From a distance the ocean meets the stream,
and the eagle takes to flight.
From a distant there is harmony, and it echoes through the land.
It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace,
It's the voice of every man.
From a distance we all have enough and no one is in need.
And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease,
No hungry mouths to feed.
From a distance we are instruments, marching in a common path.
Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace,
They're songs of every man.
God is watching us, God is watching us,
God is watching us from a distance.
From a distance you look like my friend even though we are at war.
From a distance I just cannot comprehend what all this fighting is for.
From a distance there is harmony, and it echoes through the land.
It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves,
It's the heart of every man.
It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves,
This is the song of every man.
And God is watching us, God is watching us,
God is watching us from a distance.
Oh, God is watching us, God is watching,
God is watching us from a distance.
I. Why does God seem distant from us?
A. God seems distant because He is utterly holy and different from us.
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the
trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.
They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us
yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or
we will die."
The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the
thick darkness where God was. Exodus 20:18-21
B. Sometimes God seems distant because we are distressed and we
don't sense his presence in our lives.
1) The writers of the Psalms felt God was not only distant, but
ignoring their cries for help.
Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in
times of trouble? Psalm 10:1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far
from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer...
Psalm 22:1-2 (quoted by Jesus on cross)
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one
to help. Psalm 22:11
(see also Psalm 22:19; 35:22; 38:21; 71:12)
C. Other times God seems distant because he really is - he has
separated himself from us due to our unrepented sin.
The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the
righteous. Proverbs 15:29
1) God can even be far from "religious" people, whether they sense
it or not.
"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are
far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are
but rules taught by men." Matthew 15:8-9 (Jesus)
2) It can help to humbly recognize this before God:
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank
you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers,
adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice
a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even
look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have
mercy on me, a sinner.' Luke 18:11-13
D. When Jesus hung on the cross, he felt completely forsaken and
cut off from his loving Father. He was genuinely cut off,
but it was for our sins and not his own.
II. Distance can give us a different perspective on things.
A. Many of our problems seem overwhelming, but in time we will
overcome them. Maybe even forget we had them!
1) Has this ever happened to you?
B. Other problems we have will never be solved in this life. We can
dream about them, and hope for them, but never attain them.
Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will
not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.
Deut. 32:52
C. The "Heros of Faith" in Hebrews 11 had this "far-sighted"
perspective. It was so far-sighted they did not even overcome
their problems in this lifetime.
All these people were still living by faith when they died.
They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them
and welcomed them from a distance." Hebrews 11:3
D. What problems do you have that seem overwhelming?
1) What can God do about them?
2) Could you accept it if the situation never changes?
III. "God is watching from a distance."
A. Is God always distant, or can he come close?
1) The song implies God doesn't, and can't, do anything more
than "watch."
2) This would reflect a philosophy called "Deism." Deism teaches
that God exists, he created the world, but he no longer gets
involved in it. Humanity is on their own.
B. The Bible clearly teaches that God can be close to us.
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty
conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22
"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying
that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him
with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all
your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more
important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him,
"You are not far from the kingdom of God." Mark 12:32-34
1) Sometimes he even draws near when we don't seek him, because
he loves us so much.
I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and
my salvation will not be delayed. Isaiah 46:13
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are
far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:39
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out
for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Acts 17:27
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been
brought near through the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to
those who were near. Ephesians 2:17
IV. How close does God seem to you?
A. Have you had an experience with God, at any time, that seemed real
and personal?
B. Looking at your whole spiritual life, how close are you right now?
