book review: The Nearness of God

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The Nearness of God

Author:  Lanier Burns

 Review by Miguel Paredes

“You can’t be alone!” These are some words directed to Jerry Maguire in the 1996 Oscar winning movie. When he broke up with his fiancé, she told him these words full of unintended sound theological truth. We are created to be in the company and presence of others. We are created to experience the presence of the Triune God.

Lanier Burns, a senior research professor of theology at Dallas Theological Seminary, brings a deep and practical presentation of the presence of God among His people.

He writes:  “‘Presence’ is a biblical term that connotes relationships, human and divine, in all of their facets. Presence means that God is with his creation generally as well as with his people intimately. This book is not about the possibility of God’s existence. Instead, it is about the biblical God, who is personally with us in our joys and sorrows, our wants and needs, our successes and failures.”

God did not design and make the universe and leave it to run on its own without his intervention. Sometimes, even Christians live as though God does not intervene. Perhaps we would prefer that he stay out of our business.

The Lord created Man and Woman in His image to commune with Him and with each other in perfection. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were expelled from the Garden of Eden, from the presence of their creator.

God reveals himself to Abraham and his descendants; to whom he promises land, seed, and blessing. The Lord shows himself to Moses in a burning bush, and then He dwells in the Tabernacle after Moses delivers Israel.

Burns takes a firm Biblical approach as he exposes God’s desire for people to walk with Him, even in the fallen state of humanity. God’s kindness is displayed in the coming of the Son of God, Jesus, who died on the cross for our sin. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to be present among His people, the Church.

However the end of the world will come, we are assured that Jesus will return to be among his people, which leads to the eternal presence of God.

A walk through this book will take you through a theme that can be easily overlooked. Burns’ practical approach will help you consider how you can better think through your personal walk with the Lord.

God IS with us. Live the reality and walk with Him.