August 21, 2012

James 4:8  ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

After considering this verse for several minutes, a thought occurred to me.  (Yes, at times it does take several minutes for me to have a thought.)  I cannot recall where, but I have read accounts where people write about God being distant.  The writers attribute this to a God-ordained dry season.  A time where God pulls away ever-so slightly so the person in question will redouble the intensity of his prayer, Bible study, etc.  That has always bothered me.  I have never quite accepted the fact that our  Heavenly Father, who loves more than we can ever imagine, would leave us feeling alone.  I think today's verse from James is one that refutes the "dry season" theory.

James tells Believers that if we don't feel close to God, it is not God who has created that distance.  We are the one who has pulled away.  While the Holy Spirit is the instigator and initiator of salvation, after our conversion experience I feel the responsibility for the growth of the relationship with God falls squarely on the shoulders of the Christian.  After additional consideration (and a" hmmmm...." from this blog's only reader) I need to modify my earlier statement.  The responsibility for Christian growth is not the responsibility of the believer, but it is the responsibility of the Believer to place him/herself in a position for that growth to take place.  Prayer time.  Meditation on the Word.  Bible study.  A Christian must engage in the spiritual disciplines before God can grow him/her.

God is there.  God is unchangeable.  God is omnipresent.  God is available 24/7.  We are the distance-creators.  We are the relationship-disruptors.  It is our disobedience, our sin that creates the separation from God.

James does not advise the Christian to go to church, say a penance or perform some ritual.  The restoration of our relationship with God is personal.  It involves our minds and hearts.  It requires a very intentional, often times very intense time alone with God.  Honesty and openness are requirements.

I believe it is God's that His children always have a close, personal, vital relationship with Him.  I cannot imagine why He would ever intentionally withdraw from us.  If a Christian ever feels alone, separated from God, perhaps James 4:8 is the answer.