Deuteronomy 30:11-1411For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11‑14)
THOUGH ISRAEL might “be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven” — the farthest away that one could imagine — yet they were not beyond the reach of God’s mercy, for He loved them even though He had to chasten them for their disobedience and unfaithfulness. Even in the most remote land on earth, if in their low estate they turned to Him with all their heart, He would be gracious and gather them back to their own land.
“For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.” It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”
In Romans 10 the Apostle sheds wonderful light on this very passage. Israel by the law had set about to establish their own righteousness, but had failed completely. God’s answer to man’s ruin is Christ. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Rom. 10:44For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4).
God has made the way of salvation as simple as possible. He could not have been more considerate and gracious to man in his weakness and low estate. For one does not need to go down up to heaven to find the Saviour, nor does he need to go down into the depths of the earth to bring Him again from the dead. Instead of being afar off, “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart.” One only has to believe and confess the Lord Jesus as risen from the dead, to be saved (Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9))
So it will be with the remnant in that day. When, chastened and repentant, they bow to the word of God and own Christ, whom they rejected long ago, as their Messiah, God will not be slow to bestow upon them the grace and goodness of His heart.
If there is one unsaved who reads these lines, we can tell you that no matter how far you have wandered in sin, you are not beyond the limits of the grace of God. If you will but turn to Him in true repentance and confess Christ as your Saviour, you will be the everlasting object of God’s love and care. “Whosoever” means anyone, everyone. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13).)
If you who read these lines are a child of God but have gotten away from the Lord, if you turn to Him with your whole heart and own your failure, no matter how far you have drifted away, God has mercy and grace for you. He delights in blessing and will restore your soul to a sweet sense of His love. It is all so simple too, for again, it is not a word afar off, “But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.".
Oh! come to Jesus, children, come,
Don’t delay, don’t delay;
Secure a place in heaven’s bright home,
While ’tis day, while ’tis day.
That blessed home is filling fast,
And mercy’s day will soon be past,
Soon earth shall hear the trumpet’s blast;
Come away, come away.
ML-02/22/1976