The Discipline of Drawing Near

Last evening as we gathered around the Word of God we considered Hebrews 7:11-19. I have no doubt that there are many men who could have handled the text much better than I did. I have no doubt that I could have – should have – handled the text much better. I have been painfully aware of my own inadequacies as we have attempted to work our way through that wonderful epistle to the Hebrews. I must confess that it is a source of considerable comfort to see godly men taking various positions regarding the difficult passages in Hebrews. It is similar to the feeling when I struggle to understand the original language of a certain passage and then see a great divergence in the translations. While the reality of the difficulties is ever before us, may we never believe that their presence is an excuse for sloppy study or teaching.

Back to Hebrews 7:19. In that passage we read “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” It is that last phrase that is of interest this morning as I write. “we draw nigh unto God.” What wonderful access we have, what unfathomable privilege belongs to the Christian, to every Christian.

When I first think of that phrase my mind runs to my own conversion. From the human perspective we may think of it as drawing nigh unto God. Two problems exist with such careless thinking. First, there is the simple reality that it was God who was drawing me not the other way around. (That’s an issue for another blog!) Second, I notice in the Greek text of Hebrews 11:19 that “draw nigh” is not a past tense verb but a present indicative. Perhaps we could translate it “we are drawing nigh”. The point of the passage is not to turn the eyes of the reader to their salvation, nor is it to focus their eyes upon the future hope of glorification. Both are wonderful truths that every believer should meditate upon consistently. However, the emphasis in this passage is on the present access available for the readers.

S. Lewis Johnson is helpful here. He writes;

“Now, I am a Christian and I regularly read God’s word.
That is a good thing to do. Do you know why?
Because in this book you discover how wealthy you are for
not only are your sins forgiven, but you have access to God.
In fact, the Word of God says that now I can dwell in the holiest
by the blood of Jesus, just as if I walked into the very holy of holies
with Aaron and sat down where God was.
The High Priest of the Old Testament could only do it once a year.
The people themselves could not enter and two veils kept them out.
Now all the veils are gone. In the morning, in the midday, in the evening you
can now DRAW NEAR TO GOD. This is Christianity – drawing near to God.
May God help you to honor him by believing His word – not to do something but to believe His word because He is faithful.

When I think of that phrase “we draw nigh unto God” I ask the question DO WE?
May almighty God grant us the ability to more fully grasp the significance of this privilege. May He grant great blessings, blessings beyond imagination, as we practice our privilege.