Drawing Near to God

(THOMAS WATSON)

To draw near to God, is our wisdom. ‘The price of wisdom is above rubies.’ Job xxviii. 18. No jewel we wear does so much adorn us as wisdom; and wherein is our wisdom seen more than in our nearness to God? It is judged wisdom to keep in with great men, Prov. xix. 6. ‘Many will entreat the favor of the Prince.’ But a prince's love is mutable. How often does the sunshine of his royal favor set in a cloud. But it is wisdom to draw near to God; he is the sweetest friend, and the worst enemy.

To draw near to God is our honor. It is counted an honor to converse with noble personages. What high dignity is it, that the great God will allow sinful dust to draw near to him! Surely the apostle did speak of it with an holy boasting, 2 John i. 3. ‘Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus:’ As if he had said, we do not walk with peasants of the world; we are of the blood-royal of Heaven; we live above other men; 'our fellowship is with the Father.’ That the King of kings will hold forth a golden scepter to us, invite and welcome us into his presence, and bid us draw near; this is no small favor, 1 Sam. xxii. 2. ‘Every one that was distressed and in debt drew near to David, and he became a captain over them.’ So that we who are distressed and in debt, may draw near to God; and that he will not only be our captain, but our husband, Isaiah liv. 5. What transcendent dignity is this! It is a wonder God does not kick us out of his presence; but that we should be admitted to see the king's face and that he should send us dainties from his own table, is an honor more fit for angels than men.

To draw near to God is our safety. God is a ‘strong tower,’ Prov. xviii. 10. It is good in times of danger to draw near to a fort or castle, Hab iii. 4. ‘He had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.’ The horns coming out of God's hands, are to punish his enemies, and the hiding of his power is to safeguard his people. God is an impregnable stronghold. Indeed there is no safety, but in drawing near to God. If the sheep wanders from the fold, it is in danger of the wolf; if we straggle and wander from God, we are in danger of Satan.
To draw near to God is our peace. The only thing which breaks our peace is, when we do not keep close to God: but what harmony, yes Heaven is in the soul, when it draws near to God! Psalm cxix. 165. ‘Great peace have they which love your law.’ This peace, like pearl in broth, is cordial. David drew near to God, for he was ‘ever with him,’ Psalm cxxxix. 17. And this made his pillow soft when he went to sleep, Psalm iv. 8. ‘I will lay me down in peace;’ as the honey-dew falls upon the leaf: O that sweet serenity which drops as honey upon the soul while it is drawing near to God! How comfortable it is to draw near to the sun! and how sweet is it to approach near to the Sun of Righteousness.

To draw near to God is our riches. It is good drawing near to a gold mine. If we draw near to God, he will enrich us with promises, and divine consolations; he will enrich us with the ‘pearl of great price,’ Ephes. iii. 8. He will reward us as a king, yes as a God! He will make over his land and jewels to us; he will give us the spring flowers of joy here, and the harvest of glory hereafter.
If we draw near to God, he will draw near to us. If we draw near to him in duty, he will draw near to us in mercy. When the prodigal approached to his father, his father drew near to him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him, Luke xv. 20. If we draw near to God with repenting hearts, he will draw near to us with a compassionate heart. David prayed, Psalm lxix. 18. ‘Draw near unto my soul.’ It is good to have God draw near to us. How sweet is his presence! he is light to the eye and joy to the heart. How happy was it for Zaccheus, when Christ drew near to him! ‘This day is salvation come your house,’ Luke xix. 9. When God draws near to the soul, Heaven and salvation draw near.