We have a command in Scripture to draw near to God that also comes with a promise. That promise is that God will also draw near to us. Our natural tendency is to run away from God. We see this in example after example in Scripture from Adam and Eve to some of the prophets like Jonah and Elijah. When the Bible speaks of being near God, it is usually speaking of God’s presence and His nearness. This is a particular nearness that usually involves blessing, comfort, and at times, help in difficulty.
One of the great truths of Scripture is that all of God is everywhere present at all times. This is the doctrine of God’s omnipresence. The Psalmist extolled this truth about God when he wrote, “Where can I go from Your presence?” The answer was nowhere. Technically, all people are always near to God and He is near to us. Surely the Christian’s desire for God’s nearness differs profoundly from that of an unbeliever. The desire placed in us by the Holy Spirit calls us to a nearer relationship with God. We want to know His presence. We want to experience that and within each believer is a deep seated longing for what the Bible promises and that is to be fully and finally in God’s presence forever. That place is called Heaven.
But you are reading this article which means you are still here on earth. So how can we know the nearness of God this side of eternity? What we are tempted to do is to think that in order to have God’s special nearness we have to be involved in something spectacular. But is that true? Consider the words of Jesus to a wayward, lukewarm congregation. He told them that He stood at the door and was knocking. If they would do something very ordinary, He would come near to them. What was that very ordinary thing? They simply had to open the door. Consider for a moment how ordinary opening a door is. I opened several doors just to get to my office to write this article. I did not think for a moment that I was doing anything extraordinary. But Jesus promised the church at Laodicea that if they would open the door He would come near to them.
It is by God’s design that ordinary means will be used to draw near to Him. These ordinary means come with great benefits for our lives and the lives of our churches. Sadly, these have been almost forgotten in our day of manufactured spiritual experiences. These ordinary means are the God-appointed ways in which He by His Spirit dispenses spiritual nourishment and at the same time strengthens the faith of His people. That sounds really good, doesn’t it?
What are those ordinary means of drawing near to God? First, they are appointed by God. Second, since they are appointed by God they are empowered by the Holy Spirit. And third, these empowered ordinary means point us to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Fourth, they happen most often in the setting of a local congregation. God uses the Word, particularly the preaching of the Word to convict, convert, sanctify and comfort His people. He also uses the sacraments or the ordinances (Lord’s Supper and Baptism) to communicate Christ and His benefits when they are received by faith. Both private and corporate prayer allows us to seek God, commune with Him, and express our continued dependence upon Him.
These ordinary means are called ordinary not because they are mundane or boring but because they are the regular ways God has promised to work. If you desire to draw near to God, then learn to delight in the ordinary. It will be through the ordinary that you might just experience the extraordinary.
Pastor Joe Tolin
Kingman Presbyterian Church
2425 Detroit Ave, Kingman
kingmanpres.org.
