Time Change!

Jesus Christ is the same—yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

So, I know a lot of people have major complaints this week over daylight saving time, and the fact that it throws off schedules. I, however, love the change, because it means more light in the evening. I love feeling like I have that extra bit of time in the evenings to be outside, and I also love that it means Spring is on the way, and that Summer isn’t too far behind that!

This change in time, though, isn’t even that real. The sun didn’t change the time that it rises and sets, we changed our clocks to make it seem that way. We don’t “get an extra hour” at night, we adjusted our clocks and experience the time in a different way.  The sun has remained constant, we are the ones that moved.

Is there a better picture of how we relate to Christ? When we feel far from Christ, we say things about how He is distant, and how we don’t feel like He understands, and we can’t feel His presence. However, as our verse above reminds us, Christ is the same. Always. Period. End of Story.

Christ doesn’t move away from us. He doesn’t distance himself from us when we disappoint Him, nor does He walk away when we ignore Him. He loves us, and that love is constant, no matter what we have done or not done to deserve it. If we are experiencing Christ in a different way, and feel that He is less of a presence in our lives, it is not Him who has done the moving. It’s us.

And none of us want to admit that, right? We don’t want to admit that we’ve walked in the opposite direction of Christ. I mean, who would want to walk away from a God that loves us so much, and is so good to us? I think the majority of the time, we don’t knowingly walk away. Sure, there are times when people choose to turn away from God. But, for most us, I think we probably just drifted a little.

Have you ever done the thing where you’re out in the ocean, and you get in and just relax and let the current take you for a minute? Even if you’re not out that deep, you all of a sudden look up and are like a mile down the beach, away from your towel and beach umbrella, and have to make that long trek back to your station on the sand.

I think it’s the same with our relationship with God. We didn’t set out to walk away. We were busy, or sick, or overwhelmed, and we missed one day of spending time with Him, and then that turned in to two days, and then we look up and can’t remember a recent day when we feel like we were really close to Him.

But, Grace. That awesome, freeing, amazing grace means that God doesn’t walk away. He doesn’t get mad that we are drifting and double the distance by moving away. He turns and faces us, and waits with arms open to receive us back again. He loves us, and He desires to be in a close relationship with us. That’s literally why He created us.

So, today, if you feel distant, or feel like God has moved, just turn and move back toward Him. Start taking those small steps back.  He loves you, and He’s waiting on you. (And hey—you have an extra hour of awake time tonight, anyway!) ; )