James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
For the born-again believer, drawing nigh unto God means
letting go of the carnal world. Very few believers are willing to come out of
the world, and so there are few Christians today who are close to God.
Most born-again believers today do not walk close with God.
If they did, they'd be afflicted, mourn and weep over the wickedness of our
generation. They would care, but they don't. The average professed Christian
today is only interested in worldly Christian Rock music, praise concerts and
spreading God's love. In actuality, it is sinful compromise. They honor God
with their mouth; but their heart is far from Him . . .
James 4:9-12, “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify
your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your
laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in
the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another,
brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother,
speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou
art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to
save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”
It is interesting that drawing nigh unto God requires
refraining from gossiping and speaking evil of others. This can only come from
a humble heart. People who misjudge only do so because they are self-righteous.
This is sinful pride and prevents being close to God. If we acknowledge our own
transgressions before Him, and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God,
then He will draw nigh unto us. Believers who willfully sin are pushing God
away.
Many professed Christians are known as “fence-straddlers,”
i.e., they want the best of both worlds. They want to please God while living
in the pleasures of sin. It is impossible. To be close to God, one must forsake
the cares, riches and pleasures of this sinful life.
I know believers who are quick to admit that they are
sinners saved by grace; but they have every intention of continuing in sinful
living. Although they may be saved, they cannot be close to God, nor will God
reward nor bless them, until they repent. They may have money, good times and
happiness in this world; but they will be miserable in eternity when they
receive absolutely no rewards from God, and are punished for hurting others
(1st Thessalonians 4:6; Romans 12:19). I'm talking about born-again believers
(2nd Corinthians 5:10-11).
Those who choose not to draw nigh unto God will be
fruitless Christians (John 15:1-7). Drawing nigh unto God is not just for
ministers or full-time Christian’s workers, God forbid. Every born-again
believer is expected to walk with God, abiding in Christ, and His Word abiding
in us, that we should bear MUCH FRUIT (i.e., souls won to Jesus Christ).
Those who walk with God will notice the demonic influences
in American society today—animal cruelty, domestic violence, arrogance, pride,
indifference, rebellion, feminism, divorce, worldly music, abortion,
homosexuality, corruption, greed, covetousness, dirty-dancing, tyranny, abuse,
filthy and violent movies, SIN CITY, Mardi Gras, Broadway, drunkenness,
adultery, fornication, pornography, lewdness, Evolution, immodest clothing,
filthy-mindedness, ignoring the poor, casino gambling, false accusers, suicide,
bribery, scandal, hatred, stealing tax-payer money, gossiping, slandering,
murder, conspiracy, false doctrines, false religion, treason, idolatry and
every other sin imaginable. As one draws closer to the Lord, abiding in the
Scriptures, sin becomes exceedingly sinful. Satan's works become more obvious.
It all boils down to—you either want to please God or you
don't. You either want to live right or you don't. You either want God's hand
of blessing and favor upon you, or you don't. Certainly, if you are a
born-again believer, then you already have God's favor as far as your soul is
concerned, because you have Christ's righteousness imputed to your account in
Heaven (Romans 4:5-6; 5:9). However, even if you are a believer, God will not
be pleased with you, nor will He bless you, if you willfully live in sin. God
does become angry with His children at times (Psalm 6:1).
God is angry with Christ-rejecters every day (Psalm 7:11;
John 3:36). However, God is only angry with His children when they disobey Him
and sin. This truth is well illustrated by a parent/child relationship. A
child, no matter how much they misbehave, can never stop being one's biological
child. Likewise, one can never lose their place in God's family, as God's
child. If saved, always saved. God never disowns anyone in His family (John
6:37). Certainly, there is no perfect believer. Psalm 103:14 tells us that God
always remembers that we are flesh made from the dust of the earth. Yet, no one
has God's permission to sin (Romans 3:31).
All one can do is place their past sins and transgressions
into God's hands, and commit their life to God to sin no more with the Lord's
help. The Holy Spirit of God helps the believer to overcome temptation. As my
pastor used to say, “We can choose not to sin at any given time; but we won't
always make the right choice because we are sinners by nature.” If we would
draw nigh unto God, then it all begins with a desire to depart from sin. It's
just like quitting smoking or losing weight, you can do it when you mean
business.
If you mean business and want to draw nigh unto God, then
God expects you to do your part. We have the ability to PRAY THAT YE ENTER NOT
INTO TEMPTATION (Luke 22:40). We have the ability to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
(John 5:39). “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against
Thee” (Psalm 119:11). A man who claims a desire to depart from sin, but will
not pray nor memorize any Scriptures to help him do so, is in denial. God knows
each person's heart, and sees who truly wants to draw near unto Him. If you'll
stay the course, and give your heart to God, then He has promised to draw near
unto you. Jesus is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Posts
