When my daughters were little, I would hold them, hug them, sing to them, press my ear on their chests, and listen to their hearts beating. Their tiny fingers and little bodies required my gentleness, something I was eager to give.
As they have grown older, I still love to hold and hug them. Increasingly, however, I enjoy those precious times when they give me a surprise hug or embrace. In those moments–initiated by them–I particularly feel their love.
In many ways, our relationship with God is similar. As Christians,
- We are God’s children by adoption (Gal. 4:5-7).
- Thus, we have access to the Father through Christ (Heb. 4:14-16).
In his book, Out of the Silent Planet1, C.S. Lewis introduces us to a unique sci-fi experience. The head eldil–archangel–of the planet Mars, named Oyarsa, requests the presence of an everyday man from earth named, Ransom, who is abducted by two men who take him with them to Mars. As they arrive in Mars, Ransom realizes the bad intentions of his kidnappers–they had different plans than the Oyarsa–and escapes their grip by heading deep into the unknown planet. Ransom’s decision to flee and make it on his own is understandable–given his circumstances–but it created a separation from the Oyarsa and ultimately avoidable consequences.
- When he finally arrives in the Oyarsa’s presence he is asked, “What are you so afraid of, Ransom of Thulcandra [Earth]?”
- Ransom responds, “Of you, Oyarsa, because you are unlike me and I cannot see you.”
- The Oyarsa responds, “Those are not great reasons. You are also unlike me, and, though I see you, I see you very faintly.”
Ransom is speechless.
It turns out that Ransom’s fear kept him from coming to the Oyarsa. His fear was rooted in his lack of knowledge regarding relational knowledge of the Oyarsa.
Is it possible for us today not to draw near to God when we ought to? What are the things that hold us back? Fear? Shame? Doubt? Distractions? Other loves?
In reality, we don’t draw near God because we don’t want to know God as intimately as we ought. As we understand His goodness, we will consistently pursue His presence. If we understood His kindness, we would not leave His fellowship. If we understood His…
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- We draw near to God through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
- “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17
- We draw near to God through obedience.
- “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” John 14:21
- How might you draw closer to Him this week? Prayer? Confession? Reading His Word? Walking through His creation and considering the works of His hands?
Let us pursue the nearness of our God together. Amen.
“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works.”
Psalm 73:28
1 Out of the Silent Planet, C.S. Lewis, p. 119.
— September 21, 2022