Why are you keeping your distance?

With few exceptions (for example, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses), the Old Testament “believers” didn’t get too close to God. Do you remember how afraid the Israelites were at Mt. Sinai?  They said to Moses, “you go, and we’ll stay here," (Ex. 20:21), preferring to maintain a safe distance.  Even the “High Priest” entered the Holy of Holies once a year with feelings of trepidation, taking the blood offering to God on behalf of those who remained in the outer court, at a safe distance.

So it was an extraordinary event when Jesus was crucified and the veil that separated the worshippers from God was torn in half, signifying that believers now have the privilege of worshiping God up close and personal.  The distance between God and man was at once and forever eliminated.

I once saw a bumper sticker that read, “If you’re feeling far away from God, guess who moved?” Don't let your feelings keep you away from God.  James promises that if you “draw near to God, He will draw near to you.” (4:8) And the writer of Hebrews says "let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water" (10:22).

Are You as Close to God as You Want to Be?

People use “spatial” terminology when they speak of getting closer to God. But in fact, there is nothing you can do to get closer to God than you already are. God has loved you infinitely and become one with you in Christ. He indwells you. You can’t get closer than that. Given that, what does he mean when James says “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you?”

Since James’ statement is not “spatial,” it must be “dynamic.” The phrase “draw near” helps us understand. It means communion and fellowship with God in prayer. How do we “draw near” to Him?

This is how theologian Arthur Pink describes it: “by meditating, thinking upon, and contemplating His complex person, His glorious titles, His compassionate intercession, His precious promises, His Living Word, He may have a constant place, the supreme place, in our thoughts and in our affections.” Then Pink said something that really caught my attention: “The apostle prayed [Eph. 3:17-19] for the saints to have a spiritual enjoyment of Him so that He would be present and precious to the soul.”

Is there someone special in your life whose company you enjoy? You just like being near them, right? Do you enjoy Jesus like that? Do you love just being with Him? This is the ‘nearness’ we all desire. In the Song of Solomon, the Shulammite woman who represents the Bride of Christ, says: “I must seek him whom my soul loves… when I found him whom my soul loves, I held on to him and would not let him go…” (3:2, 4). And through the prophet Jeremiah, God says “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (19:13). It’s up to you: you really can be as close to God as you want to be!

Where Do You Go in Your Time of Need?

In your time of need, you may call a friend, head for the gym, go to the mall, or raid the refrigerator. While these do indeed provide some immediate comfort, in the long run, they do not. For this reason, the writer of Hebrews exhorts us: “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in TIME OF NEED” (4:16).

The writer declares that we need to go to the “throne of grace” in our “time of need.” We all know we are saved by grace. But do you know the other side of God’s grace—grace that empowers you to live victoriously, joyfully, and peacefully?

What is the “time of need” when you need to go to the "throne of grace?"

First, we need to go to the throne of grace when we have sinned. The problem the writer anticipates is that after we have sinned, we feel a distance from God because we know He is Holy. We have no confidence that we are worthy to go to Him. But if our confidence is in Jesus, we will draw near. If our confidence is placed (really misplaced) in ourselves, we will withdraw. If you turn away from God when you have sinned, it is a pretty good indication your confidence was in yourself!

Second, we need to go to the throne of grace when we are tempted to sin. There is never a time that is more necessary to draw near to the throne of grace. There we find the empowering grace that delivers from temptation. There we find confidence; there we grow in confidence.

And finally, can you think of a time when you don’t need His grace? We should learn to go to the “throne of grace” and stay there—knowing our “time of need” is ALL the time. If we remain at the “throne of grace”—moment by moment—we will always have enough grace to help in "time of need."