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DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20

"THE CLOSENESS OF GOD"

Intro: One of our greatest needs is to develop the awareness of God's closeness. We often
       think of heaven as far out in space, thus we think of God as far away. Not so, we are
       surrounded by God, you cannot escape from Him, "For in Him we live, move..."

I. MOSES IS TALKING HERE OF LIFE AND DEATH  (verse 19..
        A. The life he refers to is spiritual life.
                1. Knowing God, loving God, walking with God.
                        a. The man who professes to be an agnostic is not an agnostic
                           because God is unknowable.
                        b. His confession of ignorance stems from his lack of desire.
                        c. He doesn't know only because he doesn't want to.
                2. God can be known.
                        a. Far more, God wants you to know Him.
                        b. To this end, He has revealed Himself.
                        c. He is not some abstract essence dwelling far off in space.
                        d. He is a warm loving Father who seeks to walk -- with His child.
                3. "It is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off."
                        a. The path to life, is right before you.
        B. The death referred to is spiritual death.
                1. Not knowing, loving, or obeying God.
                2. Living in rebellion against God.

II. WHAT DOES GOD WANT OF ME?
        A. God's commandments are not hidden from you.
                1. He has not hid His truth in some mystic vagueness that takes some guru
                   to unfold.
                        a. It is not in heaven so that a specially gifted mystic must go
                           into some kind of trance to bring us God's truth.
                        b. It is not beyond the sea, that you must travel to India or Tibet
                           to discover truth.
                2. He has laid it right out there before your eyes so plain that even a
                   dummy like me can see it.
                        a. It is in your mouth, it's in your heart.
                        b. I have heard so many people condemn themselves with their
                           own mouth.
                                1. I really know I should walk with God.
                                2. I know that it is wrong.
                                3. How do you know?  It's in your heart.
                3. God has put His comments in your heart.
                        a. No one has murdered another without feeling guilt. You must
                           fight against the guilt.
                        b. No one has lied without feeling wrong. You must create
                           your rational.

III. WHAT ARE THE COMMANDMENTS?
        A. Verse 16.
                1. Love the Lord thy  God.
                2. Walk in His ways.
                3. Keep His commandments, statutes, judgments.
        B. Verse 20.
                1. Love the Lord thy God.
                2. Obey His voice.
                3. Cleave to Him.
        C. That's it, this is the path of life and fellowship with God.
        D. You may come to me in tears and declare, "Chuck, I do love God, and I want to
           walk with Him, but I have failed to obey, my flesh is so weak. My desires for
           God are right, I want to live with Him, I have failed to obey. Today I feel so
           far from God, I see His ideal, I long for Him, I need Him."
                He is still as close as your mought and heart. "For if thou shalt confess
                with thy mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe.. thou shalt be saved."
                God is very near, salvation is very close.