How Can I Get Close to God?
How do I get close to God? Have you ever wondered this? What is the reason that we contemplate this question? The society in which we live has further distanced itself from the Creator as the years go by. Many have attempted to substitute science, philosophy, or even psychology to fill the hole that sin leaves each in (cf. Rom. 3:23). Those studies have value and do help us understand much in this world, however, there is nothing that can fulfill our need to know and be in fellowship with our Creator. Science has failed to adequately explain our origin. Philosophy, try as it might, has failed to show us the best way to live a complete life. Psychology has failed to fully explain the mind of man. We do not need the scientist, philosopher, or psychologist to tell us who we truly are; we need the Creator. So if we perceive we have a need to get close to God, let us draw near. The Hebrew writer recorded these words, “Let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water “ (Hebrews 10:22).
How? With a True Heart
The Bible speaks much about the heart. It symbolizes the center of a man's emotions, desires, and will. To get close to God, that person's heart must truly be in it. This is one of the greatest commands, and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deut 6:5). My love of God starts in my heart and to draw near to God, my heart must be true. The heart helps to tell me who I am. What is in my heart gives way to the words that come out of my mouth. Jesus said,
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
(Luke 6:45)
We also are aware that it is within the heart where murders and adultery begin (cf. Matthew 5:20-28). If I am going to draw near to God, I must come to him with a true heart, a heart seeking to be changed and filled with the goodness that comes from our God.
How? In Fullness of Faith
Faith is the basis of our seeking God. If I am going to draw near to God, I must have some sort of faith (belief) that God is and that I need Him. Faith is the prerequisite to seeking to be near God. The Spirit reminds, “and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith leads to becoming well-pleasing to God, and when we keep coming to him based on that belief, we are rewarded in our search. The reward is being near to God in this life and eternally. If I am going to draw near to God, I must come to Him with all of my heart. There are times when we may not “feel” close to God, but we need to ask ourselves why that is and make the necessary adjustments.
How? Having Our Hearts Sprinkled From an Evil Conscience
God created man with a pure and clear conscience. This conscience is what allows man to know what is right and wrong, and when we each choose the wrong, that conscience becomes corrupted and a sacrifice is needed to restore us to God. Jesus was that sacrifice. This figure of the sprinkling appeals to the former practices under the Mosaic system. Envision the sprinkling of the blood upon the altar by the priests. For the Christian, we relate this image to the blood of Christ, for it is Jesus who shed His blood for a new covenant for the remission of sins (cf. Matt. 26:28; Acts 2:38). After receiving the benefit of this sacrifice, we must remember that to seek God, we must seek to not violate even our renewed conscience because that in itself is sin. The Inspired Apostle Paul wrote, “But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23). If I am going to draw near to God I must come to Him sprinkled from an evil conscience. We must remember what God has done to make us able to get near Him and remain there.
How? Having Our Body Washed with Pure Water
The body in itself is not evil. It was not created as evil but rather in the image of God. Yet, when we willfully choose sin, we engage in sin with our bodies. There is no shortage of violence, promiscuity, and abuses carried out with and within the human body. So we need to be cleansed. We are thus reminded of how one receives salvation, that after hearing and believing, repenting of sin, and confessing Christ, our sins are washed away in baptism. Peter records, “which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). We know this is the promise made to all Christians (cf. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27; Acts 22:16). Moreover, we see this image repeated in a similar fashion in Ephesians 5.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish
(Ephesians 5:25–27)
The Lord gave Himself up for His bride. What better reason is there to draw near to Him today and every day? Let us draw near to God!
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
