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LATEST EDITION! Drawing Near to God  E-Bulletin

How to Draw Near to God.

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Drawing Near to the Invisible God

By Mark E. Larson

For many people, a relationship with God who is invisible is an incredible, if not seemingly impossible concept to grasp. “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17). Since we are accustomed to using our senses (e.g., seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting) to confirm what is real, it can be challenging indeed to believe in an invisible God.

“No man has seen God at any time” save the Son Jesus Christ (John 1:18; 6:46). Man has seen God in human form (Gen. 32:30; Exodus 24:9-10; 33:11; Judges 13:22), but never in the fullness of His glory and power. We cannot see God nor attempt to observe Him with a powerful telescope that observes far into the Universe. Yet, even though God is unseen, let us be assured that God is ever present and aware of everything (Psalm 139:1-10).

The Scriptures teach us that the glory of the invisible God is unapproachable. Like the sun who provides needed light, God’s glory is too intensely bright and brilliant to look upon: “... He who is blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen” (1 Tim 6:15-16). Moses desired to see God’s glory to which God replied: “You cannot see my face” (Exodus 22:18-20).

How Do We Come to Know God Who is Invisible?

Though an invisible God may seem largely mysterious, the Lord has made Himself known in many ways. First of all, the Creation is evidence of the invisible God: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20, NASB). The Universe and life itself is of such incredible complexity that it could not have come merely by time and change (e.g., evolution), but can only be the result of an intellect designer, the invisible God, our Creator.

In addition, we can come to know who the invisible God is when we are taught by the Scriptures: “Make Thy face shine upon Thy servant, And teach me Thy statutes” (Psalm 119:135). A direct connection is made in this psalm between learning God’s word and the shining of God’s face upon us. Fellowship or a relationship with God is made possible when we listen and take heed to His divine will.

God is revealed to us not by His appearance, but by His attributes as described in the Scriptures (Exod. 33:19). God’s name and goodness is identified with His glory or face: “The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace’” (Num. 6:25-26). All of God’s amazing attributes reveal who God is! (e.g., loving, wise, patient, powerful, holy, righteous, eternal, God of joy, hope, comfort, grace, peace, etc.).

Finally, we can come to know the invisible God through His Son Jesus Christ: “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation” (Col. 1:13-15, cf. Col. 2:9). Jesus perfectly represents the Father, His life, and character in every way. Those who would behold the invisible God may see Him reflected in the face of His Son. To know what the invisible God is like, we must look to Jesus. John 14:9 “Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'?”

Draw Near to God and He Will Draw Near to You! (James 4:8).

Faith in the invisible God comes from hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17). There are no short cuts or spiritual quick fix gimmicks that bring us to a close union with God. Only by the Word is faith in God established in our hearts. The Father does not use force or pressure, but He draws or leads people to Him. God draws people to Him by His Son who was crucified on the cross for our sins. Jesus, who was God in the flesh, said before His death: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32). The wondrous attraction of the cross of Christ leads many people to God. Yet, to know of the cross of Christ, people must be taught of God His gospel. When people hear and learn God’s will and come to the Lord in obedient faith, they may draw near to the invisible God: “‘No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.  It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. Not that any man has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father’” (John 6:44-45).

To draw near to the invisible God, believe in His Son Jesus (John 5:37-40) and obey His word (John 8:55). Sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:2; Rom. 3:23), therefore everyone must be cleansed of their sins to draw near to God (James 4:8-10). To have our sins washed away, we not only must believe in Christ, but we must also repent of our sins, confess our faith in Jesus, and be baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 2 Cor. 7:10;  Rom. 10:9-10): “‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord’” (Acts 22:16). To maintain fellowship with God after baptism, continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:5-10; 2:3; 4:7-12).                 

If you want fellowship with the invisible God of Heaven, draw near to God through Jesus Christ by rendering obedience to the gospel today!  “Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

Drawing Near to God