My wife, Carol, often prayed for a closer walk with God. No doubt with the words of a song reverberating in her mind and her heart. “Just a closer walk with thee, grant it Jesus is my plea. Daily walking close to thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be.” Once we experience God’s presence in our life we can never get enough of it. We yearn to draw closer and closer to Him.
James wrote, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” (James 4:8) There is only one way to approach God and that is in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for our sins, the heavy curtain in the temple that separated us from God was torn from top to bottom so we can enter God’s presence without the intercession of a priest. We can enter God’s presence through prayer, worship and studying His word. We wash our hands by repenting of our sins and turning from them. Our hearts are purified by the blood of Jesus. When God looks at us, He no longer sees our sinful nature, but instead sees the righteousness of Jesus and draws us near to Him as His adopted child. The closer we get to God through His Holy Spirit within us, the less attractive the hollow, unsatisfying things of the world become.
I remember so clearly watching The Passion of Christ in a movie theater with Carol. We sat there stunned for ten minutes letting the reality of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross sink in. I had been a Christian for over 30 years by then, but I felt closer to Him at that moment than ever before. The words of two songs merged in my mind and heart. “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone and there’s a cross for me. Nearer my God to thee, nearer to thee, even though it be a cross that lifteth me.”
Since then, I have studied God’s word, worshipped Him in song and remained near to Him in prayer, always taking time to listen to Him. I will never get enough of His presence until I pass through death into eternity with Him. I hope each of you will continue to draw closer and closer to God each and every day.