Let Us Draw Near by Dennis Nonnemacher
The heart of every Christian should desire to be nearer to God. However, busyness and questions about drawing close often bring confusion and discouragement. The emptiness remains because mankind was created to have fellowship with his Creator. God did not create man for separation from Himself. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Even after they were disobedient, God went out looking for them in order to spend time with them.
Genesis 3:8-9 (KJV)
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
What did God find? He found them hiding because of their shame and guilt…the opposite of drawing near to Him. Sadly enough, man has been doing the same thing ever since…running, hiding, avoiding, and not drawing near. At times it is out of guilt and ignorance.
God provided a way for their bodies and guilt to be covered through the sacrificing of an animal. In the Old Testament, an unblemished animal was killed and blood shed for the sin and restoration of fellowship for man. In the New Testament, however, God’s own Son, Jesus Christ sacrificed His own body and shed His own blood for the sins of “all” mankind and the restoration of fellowship with God. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews says: Hebrews 10:19-22 (KJV)
”Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God;
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.”
Jesus our High Priest has removed the veil that has prevented mankind from entering the Holy of Holies, or God’s presence. In these verses, we discover that He has made a new and living way which is consecrated for us. We can enter boldly because of His shed blood. But how do we draw near? What must we do to prepare our mind and heart to draw near to Him?
First of all, we can prepare to draw near to God with a true heart. This means a heart of passion for God, an honest heart, a heart that hates sin, is surrendered to Him, and is not conforming to the world all around. This is done through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each believer. John 14:17 tells us that: “the Holy Spirit dwells with us and in us.” It is the Holy Spirit that enables each person to say no to sin and yes to righteousness in Him. A true heart will seek after God, His righteousness, and say no to the flesh that so easily ensnares.
Secondly, we can prepare to draw near to God through full assurance of faith. The writer of Hebrews also said, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6 We cannot enter the Holy of Holies if our faith is weak or lacking. We cannot develop a true heart without faith. The two go hand in hand! The only way to develop strong faith is through fellowship with Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith.
Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher(perfecter) of our faith”
Hebrews 12:2 (NASB77)
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”
Faith is like a muscle, the more we exercise and use it, the stronger it becomes. We must exercise it, declare it. Drawing near to God in the Holiest is where God reveals Himself to us and this only comes through faith.
John 4:23-26 (KJV)
”But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
When we draw near to God in faith we will find favor and fellowship with God, life and blessings from God, and the power and joy of God.
The third thing we need to do in order to draw near to God is to have our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience. Our conscience is the center of our heart which is the center of our emotions. If our conscience is not free from sin, guilt and shame, then our heart cannot be pure and ready to draw near to God. So, our conscience needs to be sprinkled or cleansed, by faith. God said through the prophet Ezekiel, “these men have set up idols in their heart, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?” Ezk 14:3 How can man draw near to God with a dirty heart? It needs to be cleansed! It is in full assurance of faith that we trust that our sin has been forgiven, our relationship restored with God, the penalty paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.
The fourth way to prepare for drawing near to God is to have our bodies washed with pure water. There are two parts to this washing. One is the divine cleansing which is done by the blood of Jesus. And the second is the human cleansing which is done by laying aside or repenting of our sin. The two go hand and hand in preparing the way to draw near to God.
God’s desire is for fellowship with man, for us to minister to Him in the Holy of Holies, His presence. Through careful, thoughtful preparation, we can enter in and draw near to Him. Praise Him, that He has provided the way, through the sacrifice and shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. With true hearts, faith that is alive, and cleansing of our conscience, inner and outer man, we can confidently draw near to the God we love.
Listing of past Food for Thoughts
