Draw Nigh to God

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. — James iv. 18. If we obey this injunction of the Apostle with honest sincerity of heart, we shall find, to our great joy, that it is more easy to approach our Heavenly Father than we could have believed; “His compassions fail not.” (Lam. iii. 22.) The Lord Jesus said: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already; because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John iii. 14, 15, 17, 18.) He also declared: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh to the Father but by me.” (John xiv. 16.) If in earnest to seek after God, let us take the easiest way to find Him. Let us believe the Lord Jesus, and look to Him and wait upon Him for aid. If we do this in earnest, He will, for the honor of His own name and promise, listen to our cry; He will lift up the light of His countenance upon us. His promise is: “Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.” (John vi. 37.) Thousands have found Him “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” and thousands more may; yea, all may enjoy this blessed privilege. The most feeble one, the most ignorant one, the most sinful one need not be discouraged; He shed His most precious blood as an atonement for us all; He is indeed the Lamb of God; He did not “come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matt. ix. 13.) Our God sees our need of a Saviour; He knows our wants; “He remembereth that we are dust.” (Ps. ciii. 14.)

The encouraging language to the Church of old was: “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John xvi. 24.) The Lord Jesus said: “God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John iv. 24.) If, then, true wor.ship must be in spirit and in truth, who can help us to perform it. but our holy High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ? “No man cometh to the Father but by me.” The Apostle declares: “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Actsiv. 12.) If we desire to make sure of our salvation, let us go directly to the Lord Jesus, to Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, who, by His Holy Spirit, dwells in our hearts. ‘’Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates.” (2 Cor. xiii. 5.) If we turn our hearts towards God, earnestly seek after Him, and patiently wait upon Him, beseeching Him to lift up the light of His countenance upon us, for the sake of His dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall surely find Him, to our inexpressible joy, and be enabled to realize the comprehensive declaration, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” (John xvii. 3.)

The righteous in all ages have daily called upon God, as Daniel the Prophet, (Dan. vi. 10); David the sweet Psalmist of Israel, (Ps. iv. 17.); and the dear Saviour Himself spent whole nights in prayer to God, (Luke vi. 12. It should also be our practice to set apart a portion of each day for the purpose of waiting upon God, and let nothing prevent us from this indispensable duty. If, dear reader, thou wishest to make rapid advances in thy heavenly journey, then be diligent and faithful in waiting upon God. If our thoughts wandei-, return again and again to Him. If we are patient and sincere, the power of the Lord will arise in our hearts; we shall feel the tendering influences of His Holy Spirit; we shall be able to approach the throne of grace; our mouths will be filled with prayer for forgiveness of our many sins, for the dear Saviour’s sake; we can petition the Almighty for a new heart — a clean heart — for more heavenly-mindedness, and for abundant grace to walk acceptably before Him; our hearts will be filled with praises for His unspeakable mercy in allowing His poor, unworthy creature to draw nigh unto Himself; we shall thank Him for all His many favors and mercies; and we shall be able to say, Abba, Father, ‘’ The Spirit itself bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” (Romans viii. 16.)

Dear reader, these are everlasting truths; this is the short, comprehensive way of salvation. Give it but a fair trial, and thou wilt find what is here said falls far short of the blessed reality; For it is written, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor. ii. 9, and Isa. lxiv. 4.)