The prophet Isaiah informed his brethren just exactly it was that caused their spiritual separation from God: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isa. 59.2).

In our world of three dimensions, we understand nearness, distance and separation. Even simple pronouns such as “this and that,” and “these and those” are understood to convey nearness or distance. To convey the consequences of sin, Isaiah says that our sins have separated us from our Lord. 

Separation from a loved one who is on some battlefield half way across the world is torturous. An infant, or even a pet, may suffer from separation anxiety that may cause illness. Such separation is extremely painful. When it comes to close, loving relationships, we do not like separation.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they were driven out of the garden, and separated from the tree of life that would have provided them eternal life. Their sin also led to spiritual death, which is separation from God. This, of course, is the consistent consequence of sin throughout the Bible – a break in a covenant relationship with God.

Our separation from God for our sins should cause us more alarm and anxiety than an infant separated from his or her mother. But does it in the minds of most people? Evidently not.

Think about a horrible murderer asking the parole board to allow him freedom to reunite with his loved ones. He’s turned down because he shows no remorse and there’s no evidence that he has changed. As sinners before God, our requests are not answered if we show no remorse and no determination to turn from sin. “He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Prov. 28.9 – nasu).

But the Lord promises us that if we draw nigh unto the Lord, He will draw nigh unto us (James 4.8). We may draw nigh through the blood of Christ. “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7.25 – nasu).

While God will not grab us and pull us back to Him, the power of the cross is enough to draw all men to God (John 12.32). It is the difference between being near or far! [-Adapted, BTW]