Drawing Closer to God

How Is it Possible?

 

Last week I shared with you that I was beginning a journey to draw closer to God.  I invited each of you to join me, because I believe that if we, as a congregation of people, could get closer to God, it would make an enormous difference in our own lives, in the life of our congregation and the lives of the people around us.  If we could somehow get closer to the power of the universe… the differences would be stunning.  

 

But, last week we ran into a problem.  The God of the universe is awesome.  His awesomeness is so awesome that if we saw his face, as it is, it would fry us.

-Yahweh told Moses, "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." 

-Isaiah fell on his face in the throne room of heaven and cried, "Woe to me.  I am ruined, for I am a man of unclean lips."

-Ezekiel, before the sapphire throne, when he saw of the likeness of the glory of the LORD, stated, "When I saw it, I fell facedown."

-The disciples upon hearing the voice of God, on the Mount of Transfiguration, took a face plant.

 

God is such a consuming fire, who lives in unapproachable light that we, humans, cannot exist in his presence.  Paul adds, "No person has ever seen him or can see him!"

 

So, how in the world, are we supposed to go on a quest to get tight with God?  God is not a teddy bear.  I would not have suggested such a journey, at all, if not for James 4:8.  Our hope of drawing closer to God is in the promise of our theme verse:

 

James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

 

Wow, somehow, in spite of God's holy glory, he made us a promise.  If we come near to Him, he will come near to us! 

 

The question I am immediately forced to ask is, "How is this possible?"  I don't get it.  God's awesomeness would fry us, yet he promised us he would come near to us. This morning I want to begin to explore this question.  Perhaps, in discovering how it is possible, we can begin our quest to draw closer to God. 

 

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Let's begin in a scary place; at the foot of Mount Sinai.

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Exodus 19:1-6 In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-- on the very day-- they came to the Desert of Sinai… they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.  Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.  Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.  Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'  These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

 

So, Moses takes these words about being God's treasured possession and his holy nation, back to his people.  Moses explains the deal to the children of Israel and they want in.  "We will do everything God tells us to do."

 

Exodus 19:10-12  And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.  Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it.  Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.'"

 

So, Moses consecrates the people.  Then, on the third day they gathered around Mt. Sinai.  Here is where it gets scary.

 

Exodus 19:18-19   Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire.  The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder.

 

Exodus 20:1-17 And God spoke all these words: 

 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. "  You shall have no other gods before me.  

⁴"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 

 ⁷ "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God,

⁸ "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 

¹² "Honor your father and your mother,

¹³ "You shall not murder. 

¹⁴ "You shall not commit adultery. 

¹⁵ "You shall not steal. 

¹⁶ "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 

¹⁷ "You shall not covet.

 

Exodus 20:18-21 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.  They stayed at a distance  and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen.  But do not have God speak to us or we will die."  Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid.  God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."  The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

 

Isn't that a cool story?  Can you just see the bowling clouds?  Can you feel the earth shake?  Can you hear the trumpet sound louder and louder?  What would God's voice sound like?  I think I would have the same response as the Israelites I would stay at a safe distance.

 

"Wait a second Tim, aren't we on a journey to draw closer to God?  Scary Mount Sinai seems like the opposite of closer."  Stay with me.  If James 4:8 is true, then something has changed since Mt. Sinai.

 

 

 

 

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File the scary mountain story in your short term memory.  I need to tell one more story before we find out what has changed.  Move ahead in Exodus just a few chapters into the wilderness and find Moses building the Tabernacle.

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Exodus 40:1-4 Then the LORD said to Moses: "Set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the first month.  Place the ark of the Testimony in it and shield the ark with the curtain.  Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it.  Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.

 

Moses continues to follow all of God's instructions about setting up the Tabernacle.  Then we get to verse 33.

 

Exodus 40:33-35 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.  And so Moses finished the work.  Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

 

Wow, smoke and scary stuff again.  It seems every time God shows up it is scary.  Now skip to Leviticus 16; we find how the Tabernacle was to be used.

 

Leviticus 16:2-3 The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.  "This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area…"

 

The rest of the chapter gives the instructions of how Aaron, the high priest, is to cleanse himself before entering the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement.  Only the high priest, once per year, could enter into the presence of God in the Most Holy Place.

 

"Only Aaron could get close to God? That is not helping much, Tim.  We aren't high priests how can we get tight with God?"  If James 4:8 is true, then something has changed since the Tabernacle. 

 

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We now have two stories in our short term memories; the scary Mount Sinai and The Most Holy Place which only Aaron, the high priest, could enter.  Now we are ready to see what has changed.  Now we are ready to see how God can make the promise of James 4:8.  Now, let's go the New Testament letter called; Hebrews. 

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Hebrews 1:1-3  In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

 

Jesus, who is one with God; in the creation and sustaining of the universe, came to this earth to provide purification of sins.  Then, the Son, through the resurrection, returned to heaven to sit in the throne room of the universe at the right hand of God!  That is what is going on in Hebrews! 

 

Now we are getting there.  Let's see what has changed.  Listen to chapter 12.

 

Hebrews 12:18-24 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."  The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear". 

 

We know what he is talking about; we know about the scary mountain.  We don't want the scary mountain!  Keep reading.  Here is the part that has changed.

 

Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.  You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.  You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

 

We come to a different mountain!  We don't come to the scary Mount Sinai.  We have come rather to Mount Zion, where the city of God!  We come to a new mountain where God dwells!  We have come to the joyous Mount Zion!  Listen to what is on this the joyous mountain.  It is not scary earthquakes and clouds.  We have come to:

- Thousands of angels cheering for us. 

-A church of people whose name are written in heaven there encouraging us.

-God who is applauding us!

-Heroes of Old giving us high fives.

-We have come to Jesus to get our eternal hug!

 

I want to go to the joyous mountain.  I don't want to go to the scary mountain.  We can go to the mountain where everyone is gathered to pump us up.  I want to go to the joyous mountain by the blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.  What?  Listen to this verse from the New Living Translation.  This is what has changed! 

 

^NLT Hebrews 12:24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did.

 

I want the blood of Jesus, which graciously forgives to take me to the Joyous Mountain!  The mountains have changed from scary to joyous.

 

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It gets even better.  There is more that has changed.  Let's continue in Hebrews 6.

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Hebrews 6:18-20   God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.  He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

 

Here is the picture.  Jesus is the high priest, not Aaron.  Jesus goes into the real Most Holy Place in heaven.  There, beside the Ark of the Covenant, in the presence of God who dwells on the Ark, Jesus digs in the anchor and brings out the chain to us.  He hands us the chain which connected to the anchor in the Most Holy Place where God dwells.  Can you see that picture; the anchor of the soul.  That is what I want.

 

Now watch what happens…

 

Hebrews 10:19-22   Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

 

Wow, through the blood of Jesus, while holding onto the chain connected to the anchor in the Most Holy Place, we can follow it right into the presence of God!  We can draw near to God!  That is what our quest; to dwell in the Most Holy Place with God! 

 

The Tabernacle has changed.  We no longer go to Old Tabernacle which only the high priest once a year could enter.  We want the new Tabernacle in which we can live… continually.  We want to dwell in the presence of God.  We want to draw closer to our God!  The Tabernacles have changed! 

 

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Let's not miss the last part of this passage.

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Let us draw near to God… with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

 

The way to God has been opened by the blood of Jesus.  We now then have the opportunity to enter the New Tabernacle with a sincere heart, by faith and pure water.  Wait, I think this is talking about baptism.  Isn't this amazing?  We enter, the Most Holy Place, through faith in the blood of Jesus and responding in baptism.  Baptism as a faith response which provides the cleansing and washing we need to be pure in God's presence. 

 

It is the holy glory which is scary.  Our sin is what makes God's presence so scary.  It is in the presence of such holy awesomeness that we are aware of our own terribleness.  But, in baptism, which connects us to the blood of Jesus, we have cleansing.  Our guilty conscience and dirty bodies are made pure, so we can enter the Most Holy Place. 

 

Baptism is one step toward getting closer to God.  It allows us to go to the joyous mountain, not the scary one.  It is what allows us to follow the chain into the Most Holy Place.

 

We can draw near to God, without being fried, because the blood of Jesus washes us clean!  It is the blood of Jesus which changed mountains; changed tabernacles and makes James 4:8 possible!

 

Tim Stidham

Los Alamos Church of Christ

January 23, 2011