GOD IS ACCESSIBLE AND OUTGOING
Synonyms of the Oxford University Thesaurus for God’s accessibility display this marvelous feature or attribute of our great God. Get-at-able; approachable, reachable, attainable, available, nearby, easy to get to; handy, within reach. Our God approached us in His Son, won salvation for us on the cross; and opened the gateway to heaven to give us access to the throne room.
How great Thou art!
In Ephesians 3:14-21, accessibility is an attribute of God, seeing Paul wrote, ’I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (v14) We bend the knee to the loving God, our infinitely wise Creator. We are admitted as next of kin, for ‘the whole family in heaven and earth is named after the Father.’ Believers need not be lonesome or isolated- we have heavenly blood relations through Calvary.
Never envy this world‘s privileged ones- nor the financially opulent. Our inner man is immeasurably wealthy with treasures of His glory; His Holy Spirit strengthens us.(v 16) God has granted free entry into His exclusive family.
In her mother’s memorial service, Ira sang, accompanying her children. She told how, ‘The Lord had secretly given her a strong spirit’: despite her tears.’
God led us into every dimension ( width, depth, length and height,) each of which is immeasurable, of the love of Christ. God’s fullness is attainable , ‘That we might be filled with all the fullness of God.’ Who can understand that all His communicable attributes would be made available to His blood-bought children. Some are , of course, belonging to His Godhead. His approachability has no exceptions. No other deity offers or grants such rights. No one is like our dear Lord. I visited Indians in Singapore, being shocked at the hideous idols in an adjoining room. ‘He made everything beautiful in His time.’
Rajah Umong was converted to Christ when the Japanese overran Borneo, Kalimantan in WW11. He translated the gospels into His Murut language, pencilled on butcher’s paper, and smuggled through humid atmosphere and soaked in swollen streams. His own people were head-hunters; skulls still lining the long houses. Whole villages turned to Christ. They pressed for admission to a bible college. ’All the fullness of God’ was seen in Rajah Umong. Do you show it? Rajah stayed in our home, preaching, where I translated for him. God had come close to him, transforming one from cannibal background. His humour was a mark of the Lord’s indwelling. He enjoyed uproarishly when caught in a pillow fight between 2 of our children.
So reachable is our great God that He sent His Holy Spirit to empower and dwell with us. ‘To Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us‘. God is not limited by our mental capacity. Patients died daily with typhoid in our Asian hospital . It was unbearable losing a patient each night. ‘We must give our patients Chloromycetin. ’ Mahal‘- too expensive, they responded. Out of a breaking heart, I told how Jesus Christ had died for our sins and had risen from the dead, and lived to meet our deepest need- even Chloromycetin, They nodded courteously- but unbelievingly.
I told my beloved wife, who gathered our children around, each of whom begged for the Lord to help their daddy. ‘Dear Lord Jesus please rescue my Daddy. He needs medicine for very sick patients: and help him to pay for them.’ Children’s pleas arrested God’s fatherly heart. My salary was sufficient for only a few days’ essentials each month. In faith, Gwenda requested dispensaries in Java to supply this drug. Chloromycetin flowed in. Eight weeks later, matron whispered that not one patient had died with typhoid. I reminded them of my great Lord. Following that prayer, two well-to-do patients sat daily with country farmers to see the Australian doctor, contributing income. This manna from heaven continued for 2 1/2years. Our God is able to do immensely above all we ask or think. He reaches out even in an Islamic nation. He has not changed.
The Father longs that His exaltation should flow into the life of the church, Paul prayed, ‘To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen!’ Where did such radiance originate? The church, His
body of which he is Head, is glorious, for it exists, often flourishing, in hostile and conflcting communities. The glory or radiance of Christ floods His church.
Relish it; praise the Lord for His lustrous beauty`.
God is understandable, seeing ’He had introduced us to that ’fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.’ Philippians 1:5 Our mighty Lord longs for intimate closeness with children He created and redeemed us when sin blighted our lives, robbing us of our nearness with God. The first day presumably was that of our new birth when we were restored to sweet fellowship with our heavenly Lord. What a precious attribute of the eternal One to long for our embrace, when we rebellious sons have willfully departed from His sweet communion.
The seeking Father for His prodigal son in Luke 15 illustrates this strong bond.
Our great God will not rest until he has perfected His work in your life and mine. Paul confided ‘He was confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it to the day of Jesus Christ.’(v6) Strong’s Concordance gives alternatives: Bring to conclusion, execute, perform, accomplish, execute, complete.’ Your God has promised to do all this. God is not aloof,(remote, distant, detached ) for He has come near to us through his beloved Son, perfecting his flawless plan in His blood-bought children. In the depression, my boyhood prayer to help people through medicine was answered after 8 years in banking; hospital experience of WW11; and studying medicine when peace returned. Truly my Lord granted medical missionary work in Java, after years of delay; and then 50 years exactly in St. Mary’s.
God dispensed his favour freely, Paul writing, ‘In my chains and defence of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.’ God poured out His grace on Paul despite weighty, clanging chains restricting physical movement. Even more the Lord rejoiced as he defended the life-giving gospel. God regards this as infinitely valuable for our Lord guards his holy name. Paul also wrote, ‘You know the grace of our Lord Jesus; that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor that you through His poverty might become rich.‘ (2 Corinthians 8:9) Accessible? surely- and outgoing even to Calvary’s cross. Hence a thirsty Paul drank of that grace. How thirsty are you?
The life of our Lord flows from heaven’s throne, as he imparts His uprightness. Paul wrote of ‘Being filled with fruits of righteousness, ( are they from the tree of life?) which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (v11) Our accessible God reaches out to bless us with His own virtuous life, enriching every part of our personal, family and business lives. Thank Him for that fullness.
In the Colossian letter, the nature of our great God is clear. The Father has chosen us to know his will, and thus be wise in spiritual understanding. While He is the Source of all intelligence, yet the Lord longed that we, as reconciled children, should be enlightened with heavenly wisdom. The approachable Lord invests His wisdom in His own. How great is our God, who imparts understanding from His eternal, inexhaustible store. In our constant walk, the Lord instructs us in the way we should go. Ruth Graham, wife of he world-acclaimed evangelist, has recently gone to be with her dear Lord. Her children, Franklyn, Ruth, told of her godly counsel, especially when Billy was preaching in 190 countries to 210 millions. Early in her life, born in China, she discovered her Lord was approachable. Her children all preach Christ Jesus, and her grandson has commenced his evangelistic campaigns- their Grandmother accessed God‘s wisdom. ‘So wise!’ Ruth is hailed as the greatest woman in the last 60 years.
Lord Taylor is a Jamaican immigrant to England with his mother. On arrival, window signs read, ‘No blacks, Irish or dogs.’ Taylor topped his school; went on to study law and was admitted as a barrister. This black lawyer trusted his Lord Jesus as Saviour, supported by a mother’s strong prayer. He was promoted as Judge, Chancellor of his University, whom the PM admitted to the House of Lords. Lord Taylor ascribes his gift of wisdom to the Father. ‘If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of the Lord who gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not: and it shall be given. ‘ Thanks be to our God for a fearless Jamaican believer.
This was my prayer before all medical examinations. I have prescribed it widely.
Paul continued in verse 10, that our lives may fulfill our Lord’s hopes, achieving noble ends, acquiring profound understanding of the Lord; ‘That you may lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of the Lord.’ God wants us to know HIM. Our God in heaven has not set a ceiling on which you may limit your effectiveness to HIM. The sky is your limit! In WW1 in Egypt a youth worker gave bible studies daily. Men found Christ as personal Savior, while believers were stirred and confronted. Oswald Chambers, author of ‘My utmost for His highest’ remains a classic after ninety years. Chambers had grasped this truth of the Lord, accessible and outreaching. He died at 29 . ‘He being dead, yet speaks.’
The Father has equipped us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.’ (v11) Promising, ‘We would be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.’ How accessible is our loving heavenly Father? He reaches out to strengthen us, and prepare us for our rich inheritance. He illumines our sainthood. In one shift, in one of our major clinics, Caroline gave chemotherapy to 3 patients fighting malignancy, each of whom loved her Lord. God had prepared her nursing skills and gentle care as worthy of her Lord. Do you have days like that? Eternal God reaches out through His redeemed ones.
Paul told how the Saviour emancipated us from enemy territory and ownership, carrying us over into a vastly-superior domain. God is not detached, but transmits His nature. ‘He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.’ Field Marshal Montgomery, leader of the Allied forces of South East Asia, commanded prisoners-of-war to walk out of enemy camps after years of harrowing torture. The PA sounded, ‘You’re free. The war has been won. I command you to leave your prison.’ Weary, bedraggled. diseased, broken-spirited men shuffled out. Released.: weeping for joy. Infinitely more wonderful, our Lord Jesus Christ, heaven’s Field Marshal, commands us to abandon enemy-dominated territory for freedom, purity and eternal life. The chains fell off. Don’t get entangled.
Paul went on to say, ‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation‘. (v16) When the Lord Jesus came from heaven to earth to be born of the virgin Mary, God took on human flesh- pure, holy, untainted with sin. Therefore He would have lived forever in that body, ( existing 2000 years until today ) except that rebel man put Him to death on the cross. He showed us just what His Father was like as the image ( or ikon ) of the unseen God. Truly, He was the very beginning of all creation.(shown in Creation and resurrection from the dead). Christ was raised from the dead, his appearances displaying the Father’s characteristics. Our approachable God yearned for a bride for Christ, bearing his Son’s likeness, ( how Father-like, having presented five beautiful brides in marriage ) )which will be fully realized when we are raptured from this life or called out of the grave. Our glorious God distinctively stretches out His hand .
While commenting on Joseph and his prolonged imprisonment, Chuck Swindoll told of a believer from an Eastern bloc country, who had been imprisoned by the Nazis. He could receive one letter each month, which arrived on the eve of interrogation, invariably involving physical beating and electric shocks. Prior to this, his wife’s letter reminded him of Acts 4:29, ’Now Lord look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word,’ as first given to Peter and John. This buoyed him up as he faced interrogation. Walking out of the room, a tall gentleman, a total stranger, unobtrusively slipped a match box into his hand. The Lord calmed his fear, sparing him from a brutal interview. He was dismissed. When he opened the crumbled match box it held the note, ‘Read Acts 4:29’. Only God’s Spirit could have released those two messages in his desperate hour. He will reach out to regale you.
Our reachable God longed for children seeking the will of their Lord.
In Hebrews 13:20, we read, ‘Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ , to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ God is within reach: he is the peace-giver, a peace won for us on the cross. In His irrevocable covenant, He shed His life-blood; he raised His Son from the dead to be our Good Shepherd ( Oh, how privileged are we?); made His will available; helped us satisfy our mighty God.
Truly God reached out to make us a joy to Him: through His well-loved Son.
Peter, God’s spokesman at Pentecost as an apostle, wrote of the Father’s summons to participate in his perpetual radiance. ‘May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever.’ (1 Peter 5:10) Our approachable God graciously summoned us to His everlasting excellence. We remember how our Lord rebuked this same Peter, ’Get behind me, satan.’ and how the Lord looked tenderly on him, breaking his deeply penitent heart. Yes, while Peter suffered martyrdom, the Lord brought him to perfection, laid Peter’s spiritual foundations, reinforced and reconciled him. His approachability has no limit. Our gracious Lord does exactly the same in your life as in Peter’s.
Don’t devote yourself to the appealing, constantly-changing world: rather be enraptured with eternal sustenance. Our Lord advised us in John 6:37, ‘Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.’ The Father chose and anointed His dear Son to nourish our eternal souls with heavenly food. An English aria singer performed before her Majesty Queen Elisabeth and President George Bush on international broadcast chose ‘Abide with me, fast falls the even tide‘. Heavenly music delighted us as this child of God glorified Christ with sweet, effortless singing. She valued heavenly food, freely available because the Father endorsed His Son. God reached out to us.
In His teaching of John 7, our Lord spoke of daily manna which the Lord marvellously supplied for 40 years in the wilderness. Our Lord rejected Moses as giving the bread from heaven, insisting rather that the Father gives the true Bread from heaven. Remonstrating with them and clearing their understanding our Lord claimed, ’ The bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.‘ ( v33) This necessitated His incarnation, taking on human flesh and blood ( pure and untainted ). The Father previewed the crucifixion of His dear Son, for the atoning death of His Beloved was the only way to redeem His lost children. God drew close to us.
We are the Father’s love gift to His Son, who will jealously guard us. John wrote, ‘All that the Father gives me shall come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out.’ (v37) The Father’s resolute purpose drove the Lord Jesus from heaven to earth, not for selfish gain but to satisfy the Father as Sender. ‘I have come down from heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me.’ Friends in Asia, questioning why missionaries from our church had come, were staggered, hearing that God had sent them. We rest our own lives in His hands, after God sent His dearest Son to deputize for Him.
The Father planned Christ’s resurrection in sending His Son as our Saviour. And safe-keeping beyond human concept: ‘This is the will of Him who sent me , that everyone who sees the Son and believes on Him may have everlasting life and ( then the glorious assurance ) I will raise him up at the last day.’ (v39) God reaches out to us, carefully planning our salvation, topped up with the mighty resurrection even as the Lord Jesus conquered death, the grave and hell.
Thank our heavenly Father for reaching out to you, and bringing you into a close personal oneness with Him.?