Zechariah 1:3(KJV)
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
God is a loving Father whose uttermost delight is to turn the hearts of sinners and backsliders to Himself. After 70 years of slavery in Babylon, God brought His people back to Jerusalem and gave them this beautiful promise: “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” The assurance of God was not only to return physically to the Land but also spiritually to Him. Zechariah began his prophecy with a call to repentance. He reminds them of the sins of their forefathers and why they had gone into exile. Zechariah, therefore, calls on them not to make the same mistake but to return to God because it could happen again if they don’t change their ways. James 4:8 says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” One of our responsibilities in fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives is a conscious effort to draw nearer to Him. Sarah Flower Adams wrote, “Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down. Darkness be over me, My rest a stone. Yet in my dreams, I’d be Nearer, my God to Thee! Nearer, my God, to Thee! Nearer to Thee!” When we draw near to God, He, in turn, draws nearer to us and helps us to fulfill His plan and purpose on earth.
The truth is, the closer we get to God, the more He gets closer to us, thereby putting our destinies under pressure to be released. God will stick with us as long as we stick with Him; however, if we leave Him, He will leave us. It is worth reflecting on the history of God’s people to notice how their iniquities and failures led to decay and disorder. Amos 4:6 says, “And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” There are numerous occasions where God tried to draw our attention through famine, drought, lack, pestilence, and premature deaths. Many people could not reach God’s ordained plan for their lives because they refused to take responsibility and live for God. Nothing hinders our relationship with God like sin. Sin is all over the world, and people of God will likely indulge in it, but then it takes humility to realize that that’s not supposed to be your way of life and turn back to God. God wants us to obey Him and repent of our evil doings. He never overlooks or despises a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). God is ever willing to pardon a genuinely repentant soul. He is always ready to take us back and restore us to our rightful position if only we humble ourselves and return to Him. No matter how far we have gone with the devil, there’s a way to come back, and it’s expedient that we change now before it is too late to do so. Hebrews 9:27 says, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
Beloved, God wants you to come close to Him, and He promises to meet you running when you return to Him. He is saying to you this day, return to Him, or you will continue to experience hardship, lack, sickness, trials, and all afflictions until you turn your attention to Him. Show me a man who does not care about the cause of God on earth, and I will show you a God who also does not care about such a man. Repent and return to the Lord for as long as you remain in right standing with God, and please Him in all you do, and you will experience open Heaven over your life. It is time to rethink and reverse from a life of stubbornness, which does not pay, and return to God. He is not far from you, so return to Him, for He is open to receiving you today. Draw close to God and be consistent in heartfelt communion with Him by praying, studying His Word, and praising and worshipping Him intimately. Seek His face now and always, using the Bible as a mirror, check to see where you have fallen short of God’s expectations, and begin to effect a change. As you increase your passion for God and refuse to be overwhelmed by the things of this world, God will also reveal Himself to you in Jesus’ Name. Remember, return to God today and turn away from sins, and instead, put your trust in Him, filled with hope and assurance of His continued plan and blessing for your life.
O Lord, I receive the grace to walk with You and obey You. Help me return to You now in Jesus’ Name.