In James 4:8a we find a command and a promise. The command is there to challenge, the promise to encourage. Here we consider both.
The command
It would be easy to draw a false conclusion from this command. It would be easy to assume that if God says come near, we must be able to. Why give the command otherwise? However, it is clear from a fuller examination of Scripture that it is not so simple. In fact, this command tells us what we ought to do, not necessarily what we can do. Its purpose is not to teach us that we can all come near when we choose but rather to assert God's will - to show us our duty and convict us of our failure.
Such a verse prepares some for God's grace. It shows us that we need his grace to come near. If I ever begin to draw near to God it is because he has moved and enabled me. It also testifies against those who refuse to come near. If I refuse to come near, I disobey a perfectly clear command. You may say, but we cannot come to God. That cannot is really a will not - that is the problem. God is willing to do all that is necessary to bring us to himself but if we utterly refuse, it will not happen.
The very command suggests that by nature we are far from God. By birth we are all (Ephesians 2:12,4:18) separate from Christ, ... without hope and without God in the world... separated from the life of God. Because of our sins we are cut off from him. James is speaking to Christians but even when we know God, even when the separation is over, there is still need to be commanded to draw near. The tendency of sin is always to draw us from God. How often we drift, how easily. The current of unbelief threatens to draw us away.
What is it to draw near to God? God is in heaven, we on earth. The drawing near is not physical but spiritual. It is a matter of our souls drawing near, of coming to him in our thinking, desires and awareness. It is to have fellowship with God. Isaiah 29:3 says These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. It is not enough to come near in word only or in our own fashion. Remember Cain. No, we must come in ways that he commands, looking to him to bring us near. But how? By nature we are cut off from God and reluctant to seek him but he has taken the initiative and done all that is necessary for his people to draw near.
Following Thomas Manton we say:
1. God did something for his people. Christ is revealed in Scripture as the way to God. 1 Peter 3:18 Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. His death has secured atonement. Because sin is now dealt with, it is possible for believers to draw near and not be destroyed.
2. God did something in his people. Following Christ's death, he sent the Spirit into the world. He enables us to draw near to God as we trust in Christ.
In particular, what we can actually do to draw near?
1 Repent. Repentance is a very important part of coming to God. In fact, without turning from sin, we cannot turn to God. Wash your hands you sinners says James (see Psalm 24:3, 4); purify your hearts, you
double-minded. We must be set on this. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change
your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. True repentance
involves deep sorrow for sin. It should grieve us whenever we sin.
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. With true repentance there is always humility. Unless we humble ourselves before
God, there is no way into his presence. The promise of lifting up matches
that of God coming near.
2 Come near in faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 10:22 says Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full
assurance of faith.
3 Pray. In Scripture seeking God's face is connected with prayer. That
is what true prayer is.
4 Read and meditate on God's Word. Usually when we wish to get
close to someone, it involves words. They speak to us and we get to
know them. God speaks to his people through his revelation. There he
reveals himself.
5 Seek to be holy. Without holiness no-one will see the Lord. See 2
Corinthians 6:16-7:1. Psalm 25:14 says The LORD confides in those
who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
6 Keep the Lord's Day and meet with his people. Whatever our views
on the subject, keeping the Lord's Day can only do us good. As the
Lord's Day comes around week by week we are reminded of the need to
seek his face earnestly. Hebrews 10:22 says Let us draw near to God
and in verse 25 adds Let us not give up meeting together. If we fail to meet
with God's people we are missing an opportunity to meet with God.
The promise
How does God come near to those who come near to him? Similar
promises are found in Zechariah 1:3 and Malachi 3:7 Return to me,
declares the LORD Almighty, and I will return to you. Romanism speaks
of the real presence meaning a supernatural physical presence in the
mass. There is no such thing. The real presence of God is spiritual. The
way God comes near to his people is by assuring them of his presence
and blessing them in different ways in Christ. We mention a few
blessings here.
- Forgiveness. In Exodus 34:9 Moses pleads for the sinful people of Israel. O Lord, he says if I have found favour in your eyes... then let the Lord go with us. He wanted the LORD to continue to be near them. He says Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance. When God forgives you he accepts you into his presence. He gives free access to himself. We draw near in repentance, he draws near in forgiveness.
- Peace. Faith leads to justification, justification to peace. See Romans 5:1. In Philippians 4:7-9 Paul urges drawing near to God in prayer. Present your requests to God he says (4:7-9) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus ....
- Hope. Hebrews 7:19 speaks of how in the New Testament a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. The nearer we are to God, the more hopeful. Colossians 1:27 speaks of Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Joy. Psalm 1:26 speaks firstly of Christ but also of all believers in him, Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence
