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“Draw Near To God”

by Chris Simmons

What is the source of so many conflicts and problems that Christians face in their lives? James says that it is due to the conflict between wanting to serve God yet living as a “friend of the world” (James 4:1-4). The name James ascribes to the one who claims to be a child of God but in fact is a friend of the world is “adulteress.” That is, there is a breach in our relationship with God when our primary love is for the things of this world (cf I John 2:15). James writes that the solution to the problem of spiritual adultery is to “draw near to God” (James 4:8). To “draw near” is to re-establish the fellowship that we once had with our Father in heaven. That sounds simple but practically speaking, how do we do that?

First of all, we must recognize that drawing near to God is our responsibility and that it must take priority above all else. It’s been appropriately stated that if you’re not as close to God as you once were, rest assured, it’s not God who moved. If someone in a boat has drifted from the shore, it is incumbent upon the person in the boat to take the actions to draw near to the shore once again (cf Hebrews 2:1) – the shore will not draw near to him! We can not draw near to God unless we are actively seeking to. Note the personal responsibility that is conveyed to King Asa in II Chronicles 15:2, “the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” The degree of effort is indicated in these words of God recorded in Jeremiah 29:13, “you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (cf Matthew 7:7-8; Acts 17:27). One of the principal reasons that husbands and wives who have drifted apart are unable to draw near to each other once again is because they are simply unwilling to work at it. The grace of God has made it possible for us to draw near to Him, but only if we are willing to work at it (Philippians 2:12)! And in all that we have to do in life, “drawing near to God” will only happen to those who prioritize it as Jesus teaches us that we must, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Develop a heart of humility. Pride destroys our fleshly relationships and it will forever keep us from being able to “draw near” to God. In the context of James chapter 4 that introduced this study, James mentions the critical role that humility plays. God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you … Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you (James 4:6-10). How can we ever hope to “draw near” to God if He, because of our pride, is “opposed” to us? Notice I Peter 5:5-6, “…all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” The word “opposed” in that passage is an interesting term. According to Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, it is a military term which means to arrange one’s army in battle against a foe (cf Romans 13:2). Our pride and arrogance has to go!

We must repent of the sin in our life. Sin is what separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). If we have any desire of “drawing near,” we must repent of that which separates us from Him. Again, in the context of James chapter 4, James writes, “draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom” (James 4:8-9). More than simply regretting our sins and mistakes, we must exhibit true biblical repentance in order to be forgiven and thus able to “draw near to God.” Paul teaches that biblical repentance (as opposed to “the sorrow of the world”) includes “vindication … indignation … fear … longing … zeal … avenging of wrong” and a demonstration of innocence (II Corinthians 7:11-12). If we hope to be with God one day, we must purify ourselves “just as He is pure” (I John 3:3). When Peter realized that he stood before Jesus, he could not “draw near” to Him because of his realization of his sinful condition, “but when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’” (Luke 5:8).

We also must learn to become useful to God in His service. We read in II Timothy 2:21 “Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” We must prepare ourselves to actively engage ourselves in the work of the Lord’s church if we desire to draw closer to our Father in heaven. How useful have we made ourselves to the Master? Can He count on us to do the work He needs done? A great deal of our usefulness to the Master depends on our ability to be ready to accomplish what He needs done (cf Titus 3:1) and to have the time for His needs. Our lives can become so busy, that there just isn’t any time for us to be “useful to the Master” which in turn inhibits our ability to “draw near” to Him. How important it is to “make the most of our time” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

In order to “draw near to God,” we also need to develop and retain a sense of need for Him. When Jesus was criticized for associating with “sinners,” He responded by saying, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick … for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13). Those who fail to comprehend the need they have for God and His Son, will never consistently make the effort needed to “draw near” to Him. We are so often tempted to become satisfied with the blessings of this life and forget Him who provides all things to us (cf Deuteronomy 8:11-14). There were brethren in Laodicea who felt as though they “have need of nothing,” much less a need for God (Revelation 3:17). The cycle for the Israelites during the days of the judges was to forget God when things went well and then seek to “draw near” to God when oppression came. They treated God much like we do our spare tire – do we?

We can only “draw near” when we both listen to Him and speak to Himwithout ceasing.” Again, in any human relationship, two way communication is essential to drawing near to each other. If we have any hope of drawing near to God, we first must listen to Him (Matthew 17:5). That involves consistent diligence to read and meditate on God’s word (Psalms 1:2; II Timothy 2:15). It’s certainly not rocket science to suggest that we draw closer to the one we listen to. The more carefully we listen to the Lord, the closer we can follow to Him (John 10:27). We also draw near when we unceasingly (I Thessalonians 5:17) and persistently (Luke 18:1-8) communicate with God in prayer. It is through our prayers that we express to God our requests (Philippians 4:6) and “heart’s desire” (Romans 10:1) and “cast” our anxieties, worries and concerns “upon Him, because He cares for you” (I Peter 5:7). Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

We draw near when we choose to make an investment in the right type of treasure. There are but two choices that Jesus spoke of. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). If you were to invest your entire life’s income in a single treasure, would you not “draw near” to that which you have invested all that you have in? To be able to choose the spiritual treasure Jesus spoke of, we need to be able to look beyond the immediate rewards that life may offer and focus on that which is eternal (Hebrews 11:24-26). We can have faith in our “treasure in heaven” as Paul talked of his faith in God to protect what he had invested of himself in the things above, “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day (II Timothy 1:12). This is an investment which involves our time, our blessings and more than anything else, our very lives. Paul commended the brethren of Macedonia, not just for their tremendous generosity, but for the fact that their generosity was because they had already invested of themselves in the Lord (II Corinthians 8:5).

In all of these things, one thing that they all share in common is the need to win the battle of our minds. We don’t “draw near” unless our thinking is the way it should be. We have to “set our mind on things above,” “where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1-2). We’ve already lost if we don’t realize the battle for our souls is engaged in our minds and how critical it is to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5). We are commanded to “let your mind dwell on these things” if we want to “draw near” to the “God of peace” (Philippians 4:8-9).

Why is it that so many Christians, during the times of their life when they need so desperately to “draw near to God” actually do the opposite and turn their back on Him? It’s because Satan will always work relentlessly to keep us from doing the things that will enable us to “draw near to God.” But one of the “precious and magnificent promises” that have been “granted to us” (II Peter 1:4) by our Father in heaven is the promise that if we do what we must do to “draw near” to Him, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). We have God’s unbreakable word on that. Though God’s promise is unwavering, it unfortunately is so often declined and neglected – it doesn’t have to be that way.

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