The expression “draw near” is found several times in Scripture. To draw near to GOD is a thought almost beyond our comprehension. The fact that we can even have access to the GOD of creation is amazing. But to draw near?
We have this blessing only because GOD was first willing to draw near to us. Romans 5:8 reads, “He demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” In this sense, GOD made the first move. We were separated from Him because of sin yet He made reconciliation possible through His Son.
In James 4:8 we read, “Draw near to GOD, and He will draw near to you.” In this case, unlike the previous reference, we see that we have to make the first move. GOD made the original first move but now expects us to make the move to draw closer to Him. But once we make that move, He promises to be there for us.
Let us not be like those Jesus addressed in Matthew 15:8 when He said, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.”
I don’t want to draw near with my mouth only. I don’t want to talk a good game. I don’t want to draw near Him with my words and yet have an insincere heart.
Rather let us strive to follow Hebrews 10:22. Here we read, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
To draw near with a true heart. A sincere heart. A heart with a clean conscience. I want to draw near to Him.
Draw near to GOD. So how do we do that?
Communication is the key. In any relationship, communication is the key. If we stop communicating the relationship will die. We have all heard the story of the wife complaining that her husband never tells her he loves her anymore. He said that he told her he loved her one time and if he changes his mind he will let her know. This silly story illustrates the necessity of communication.
Communication is a vital component in a marriage. It is necessary in any relationship. It is necessary in our relationship to GOD. Do you want to be closer to GOD? It begins by communicating. And please note that communication is a two-way street.
Does GOD communicate to us by speaking directly to us? No. He communicates today through His inspired word. The communication from GOD to man is through the Bible. In 2 Timothy 2:15 we read, Study to show yourself approved unto GOD.
Do we really appreciate the Bible for being the word of GOD? This is a book unlike any other book ever written. It is not the words of men. It is not authored by man. It is the inspired word of GOD. It is GOD communicating to man. Read 2 Corinthians 2:9-13. It is one half of the two-way street.
The other half of the two-way street is our communicating to GOD. The communication from man to GOD is through prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us we are to pray without ceasing. We are to be a people of prayer. We communicate to GOD through our prayers.
Do you want to be closer to GOD?
In order to draw nearer to GOD, we need to open the lines of communication. We need to listen to His communication to us. We need to be hearers of the word; and not hearers only but doers of the word (James 1:22). And we must communicate to Him regularly. We must be a people of prayer. In so doing, we can draw near to the GOD of the universe. And in drawing near to Him, we have His faithful promise that He will draw near to us.