Earthly and Spiritual Separation

Rev. C. Vogelaar, Zwolle, the Netherlands

Distances

It is sometimes very hard for people here to understand how life is on the vast continent of North America unless they have been there themselves for business or a visit. It happens that people, meeting some visitors from Ontario, ask them to give their greetings to acquaintances in Alberta or British Columbia, not realizing how far apart these provinces are. Often, one has to explain how much time is involved in traveling to a classis meeting or synod and how delegates of Synodical committees are away from home for several days when they have to meet with other deputies.

We experienced these distances ourselves in the years that we served the churches in Canada and the U.S. Traveling was part of our life, and we often felt how much it was appreciated by congregations, located at considerable distance from our place, when we visited them to bring God’s Word. Distances in the Netherlands are quite different. Attending a classis meeting or an ordination service may require traveling for an hour or occasionally a little more. Going from our place to a church in Zeeland may even take two hours, but that is about the limit of our traveling. Yet, the extensive traveling done overseas could also be a time of fellowship with other delegates, friends and brothers, which could really be refreshing and profitable.

Separation

The means of transportation and communication have improved much since the time that our forefathers emigrated from Europe to the U.S. and, later, also to Canada. In those days, immigration was often seen as a permanent separation, and this caused many tears and much distress to those who saw their dear ones leave and wondered whether they would ever meet them again. Indeed, sometimes it was a final farewell; parents had passed away when their children could finally afford to visit the old country again. It was a painful separation for many.

Years ago, it was also not as easy to communicate with one another as it is in our days, with all the modern technology that is available, in order to make those distances seem a little shorter. However, there are times also today that these distances, in spite of all the modern means of transportation and communication, are still felt in a very painful manner. When there are concerns and cares, one can feel so painfully separated from the loved ones he would like to be with. In times of sickness and difficulties one longs to be able to help and support the hurting ones who are so far away.

Then there is often but one way left—the way of prayer. Asaph said, “It is good for me to draw near to God.” It is the most painful separation when the Lord seems to hide His face and seems to be so far away, but what a comfort it is when one may know that He is near to all that call upon Him in truth and when something may be felt of His nearness.

The Lord has many ways to draw His people as crying and needy ones to the throne of His grace. Often, troubles and trials are used to bring them on their knees and make them poor supplicants before Him. The Bridegroom longs to hear the voice of His bride. We read in the Song of Solomon 2:14, “O My dove, that art in the cleft of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let Me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.”

A blessed discovery

We are all so far away from God, by nature. However, we do not realize this, nor do we grieve about it. In fact, we prefer to be separated from Him. In our foolishness we consider His nearness as a restriction of our freedom and His service as slavery. We believe the lie of the Prince of Darkness and choose the service of sin above the service of God, which gives more joy than the world can ever give.

It happened many years ago already. A young boy was standing on the shore of one of the islands of Zeeland. He looked over the water of the North Sea. He could not see the other side where England was, so far away. There he cried to God. He said, “Lord, the distance between Thee and me is much wider than the sea before me.” How painful that distance was to him. It made him cry to God and seek a way to come back to Him to experience His nearness. That nearness was more precious to him than all the world could offer. The Lord showed him that, although he himself could never take away that distance, God had found a way that a poor, wretched sinner could be restored into His fellowship, namely, by the redeeming work of the Mediator. Jesus Christ could say that He is the Way.

A missing sinner will not have rest before he or she is brought back to the Lord and received into His favor again as the prodigal son was embraced by his father. Painful distances are felt in times when needs among loved ones multiply and one cannot be near to them. There is One who can be nearer to them than any creature could be. God, in Christ, can again have communion with sinners who have left Him and chosen to be separated from Him. Gods people, although maybe far away from each other, can feel bonds that bind them over great distances. They may bring each other’s needs before the throne of grace. What a privilege to come to that blessed place, wherever we live, to pour out our hearts and also to lay each other’s needs before Him who hears the needy when they cry.

Christ cried on the cross of Golgotha, and there was no answer because He was forsaken by His Father. Therefore, it became possible, “I love the L o r d , because He hath heard my supplications.” Psalm 116 speaks so clearly of deliverance for a needy supplicant. There he may say, “I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the L o r d .” He may also promise, “I will pay my vows unto the L o r d now in the presence of all His people.” There God will receive the thanksgiving for what He has done. Blessed place, to be near to Him who sustains and delivers, who carries and leads, also in difficult and painful ways.

He leads through the desert and brings the wearied pilgrim home where there will be no riddles anymore and no tears, for He will wipe them all away. There will be no distance anymore, and He will make them to rest from the wearisome journey. They will thank and praise Him for all His ways of wisdom that He has given to rebels and foolish ones, and they will admire and glorify Him.

Coming to Christ implies a hope or expectation from Christ in the coming soul. If we have no hope, why doth it move forward? Hope is the hamstring of faith; it cannot move to Christ, except it be satisfied at least of the possibility of mercy and salvation by Him. Hence it is, that when believers in Christ are struggling with their doubts and fears of the issue, the Lord is pleased to enliven their faint hopes by settling on such Scriptures as, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” This puts life into hope, and hope puts life into industry and motion.

— John Flavel

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