Focus: Nearness to God

Text: Ps.148:14

"He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people NEAR unto HIM. Praise ye the LORD."

It is one thing for God to be close to His people and another thing for His people to be close to Him. The psalmist says that we are "a people near to him." God wants us to be close to Him, but there's one thing that causes a separation between us and God, and that is our sin. 

Isaiah declares, "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isa.59:1-2). It is for the sins of the people that made God demand for His people to be far from Him in the Old Testament. He made the people keep their distance from Him. Both in the tabernacle and the temple, the people worshipped God from a distance.

When God appeared to Moses, He said to him, "Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet." On Mount Sinai, He says to His people, "Thou shalt set bounds about the mount." In those days the people did not even enter the outer court. Only the priests were allowed into the inner court to minister to the Lord, and only the high priest was allowed into the innermost place, or the holy of holies, and he entered just once in a year. All of this was to guard against moral compromise or tolerance of sin. 

God has zero tolerance for iniquity. He is utterly and awesomely holy. Nothing can compensate for the lack of holiness in God's people.

It is on the ground of holiness that God's people can experience and enjoy nearness with their God.

It is in nearness to God that we can appreciate the sweetness of divine nearness or intimacy with God. The psalmist says, "But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works" (Ps.73:28). He says again, "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth" (Ps.145:18). Moses says, "For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?" (Dt.4:7). 

It is in being near to God that the church can fulfill her prophetic role on earth, for God speaks to those who are close to Him.

Closeness to God comes with a price. We need to spend quality time with God, praying, studying, meditating and listening to God. In practicing the presence of God, we glow with His glory and reflect the beauty of His holiness. Kinship and affinity with God increases our knowledge of Him.

God wants us to be close to Him, not just Him being close to us. We need to draw nigh to God and stay in the place of proximity to Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ says, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (Jh.1:18). The word 'bosom' speaks of the place of closeness. By being close to God or even one with His Father, Jesus Christ could exegete or uncover God to others. 

John is portrayed as one "leaning on Jesus' bosom," and Jesus Christ loved him. In fact, at the last supper, the other disciples depended on John to know who Jesus was referring to as His betrayer. John reports, "Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake" (Jh.13:24). 

God doesn't look for a far-away people to speak to or to speak for Him when He has people who are close to Him. The 'pro' in pro-phet means 'in front of,' 'face to face,' or 'in the presence of another.' Prophets are required to operate from the place of nearness to their God, not from a distance. 

All of God's children must long for a closer walk with their Heavenly Father. Nearness to God leads God's people to greater usefulness to Him. It's time for us to come up hither. He has something to show us, and He has something greater and grander to do with us and through us than ever before. Let's come nearer to God now!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter