Most of us know someone who’s been in the emotional tug-of-war of a long-distance relationship—or maybe we’ve been there ourselves. Before smartphones and FaceTime, those kinds of relationships had to be incredibly difficult. Think back to the days before unlimited long-distance calling—just hearing each other’s voice came at a premium. And the occasional visits? Especially if they lived on opposite coasts? Painfully rare and painfully short. I can only imagine the tearful goodbyes: “How will I survive until I see you again?” or “I can’t live without you.”

We all know that long-distance relationships on earth rarely stand the test of time. But here’s something to think about: For centuries, God seemed far away from His people. Sure, He made appearances—burning bushes, pillars of fire and hovering clouds—but those appearances were few and far between. Then, everything changed. God came near. He came to us. He came as one of us in Jesus Christ. God was no longer distant. Emmanuel walked among us. (Emmanuel literally means “God with us”!)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

But then came the crucifixion. Imagine the trauma for those who loved Him. He was gone. Not just physically, but His divine presence—the comfort, the peace, the power—seemed to vanish too. It must have felt like the worst kind of long-distance relationship ever. Then came the twist no one expected: three days later, just as He said promised, Jesus arose and walked out of that grave. Emmanuel was back!

But, as you probably know, the story doesn’t end there. After just 40 short days of post-resurrection appearances and final instructions, Jesus announced He was returning to Heaven. If it were me, I’d be tempted to go global—tour the world, hit every news outlet, launch a “Jesus World Tour” YouTube channel, maybe even a TikTok account. After all, who wouldn’t want the whole world to know? But instead, Jesus chose a quieter path. He appeared to a few hundred people, trained His disciples, and then ascended back to the Father.

His disciples were heartbroken—but not caught off guard. Jesus had already told them what was coming. In John 14:2, He says, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” And then in verse 3, He gives one of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am.” Even as He left, He reassured them they wouldn’t be left alone. In Acts 1:8, Jesus says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.”

Wow. Just … WOW. God didn’t just move from being distant to being near—He moved inside us. You just can’t get any closer than that! Jesus’s physical departure didn’t mean God abandoned us. Remember, God is one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father wasn’t content to stay distant. But sin had to be dealt with first. So He sent His Son to live among us and to pay, once and for all, the debt we owed. When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” that separation was finished too. And then, God took it one step further—He sent His Spirit to live in all who believe. God is not just with us … He is in us. Forever!

I have to say it again: WOW. The Creator of the universe—who made the stars, galaxies, oceans, and mountains—was thinking us when He created everything. And, as if that wasn’t enough, when He sent His Son to die, He had us in mind as well then too!

So now we’re left with one question: What will we do with this incredible truth???