Where Are You; In or Out?

... neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his BANISHED be not EXPELLED from him. (2 Sam 14:14b KJV, emphasis mine).

I'm seeking God about something recently and as I was doing my QT today, this verse popped out at me. Both KJV and NKJV used the word "banished" and "expelled".

I checked the Merriam-Webster dictionary and both words have similar meaning. Indeed, both the Common English Bible and NIV agrees with this when the same verse is printed as "... a BANISHED person does not remain BANISHED from him" (2 Sam 14:14b NIV, emphasis mine).

We, being unholy and with our own "merits", cannot be near the Holy God. But the verse speaks clearly about something: that God so love you and me, even though He (being the Creator) does not need to, but yet He works to make a way for us, so we will not remain away from Him.

"... he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him". (2 Sam 14:14b NIV). So it's not a permanent banishment or exile; there is a way to return.

The Message version of the same verse says "... He works out ways to get the EXILE back" (MSG, emphasis mine). The word "exile", interestingly, in the Merriam-Webster dictionary has a component which the words "banish" and "expel" do not have. According to the dictionary, "exile" is both passive (i.e. to be exiled) as well as active (voluntary on our part). And so it is, in the spiritual realm, we can both actively and passively exile ourselves from God's kingdom whenever we sin.

But here comes the equation: God works to provide the means to be out of exile but how do we appropriate it? What do we do about it? Have you done your part of the "work" to draw near to God and grow in His mercy and grace? Do you take His mercy and grace for granted?

For those who have yet to receive Christ, God shows the way through Christ. For those who have accepted Christ, God gives His Holy Spirit, conviction and His word to keep us walking well. So we are without excuse.

The bible warns us with the parable of the ten virgins (Matt 25:1-13). The Kingdom of God is like that and we can choose to be like the five wise virgins (some commentaries believe these are the equivalent of modern day bridesmaid) who was always ready for the arrival of the bridegroom or the five foolish virgins who was not diligent and not prepared. The result: they missed the banquet, the bridegroom and was kept outside.

If Christ comes today, how ready are you?