Originally Posted by Angelml

The nearer the Church, the farther from God.

The closer a person is to a sacred place, the farther he is from Almighty. Man is always creating distances from God. The beauty of the material world has blindfolded him. Even those who are calling a spade a spade about religion are spiritually nowhere near Him.??

Logically, man thinks by practicing all the religious obligations, he will be closer to God. He offers prayer five times a day, yet having worldly affairs going on in his mind at the same time. He fasts regularly in the month of Ramadan while rebukes a hungry beggar on his way to mosque. He embarks to perform hajj leaving his ailing parents behind. Nearness of God cannot be achieved by a mere pretense; it is gained by purity of soul. Only spiritual devotion can lead people closer to Almighty.

History abounds with several examples. Satan, once known as the most devoted angle for his countless prostrates to God, was thrown out of Heaven. His prayers could not lead him close to God. On the contrary, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai was known for his nearness to God; yet he lived on a mound far from any sacred place.

In a nutshell, it is true devotion and love which can take a person closer to God, not just his worship. God lives in the hearts of His creation. He just needs to look into himself to find God. He does not need futile worship to be near to Him. Hence, true devotion is essential for nearness of God.