Christians approach God constantly; non-believers do too.  And by the way, Happy Valentine’s Day!  But this isn’t about that. Have a blessed week … Bob

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Spirituality Column #848

February 14, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Approaching God

By Bob Walters

“Let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16

It’s easy for believers.  We seek God and find God.  We seek Jesus and trust Jesus. The Holy Spirit indwells our whole being.  The Bible makes sense.  Our prayers are heard.  Our hearts are calmed by the mercy and grace of the Lord.  We know there is a better place and a better life to come.

We feel it, we know it, we live it.  As much as we can, with love, we share it.

We love God and we love others.  We understand and stand on the solid ground of God’s love and righteousness.  The eyes of our hearts needn’t blink at God’s glory, and our arms embrace the love of Jesus as He embraces us and forever seeks us.

We know we are sinners: wicked, rebellious, and prideful by nature.  But in faith comes management of and thankfulness for God’s ultimate gift: forgiveness of sin and the resulting life of joy in service and sacrifice to the God of all Creation.  We can see His Kingdom from this shore, and feel the warm breezes of God’s love wafting even into this fallen world.  We trust His word as we trust the wind to bring waves.

The Bible is our deep well of inspiration, advice, peace, and reflection.  Since coming to faith some years ago I have yet to encounter a situation, gift, threat, danger, opportunity, or idea for which I could find no scripture verse for enlightenment or comfort.  God’s word, with God’s love and righteousness expressed in Christ, is perpetual truth.

That is what believers have; by God’s grace we own it.  And in God’s name we tell it, in obedience we share it, with courage we defend it, with love we grow it, and in humility, often with thankful tears, we appreciate it.  In prayer, we ask for more of it.

That’s what we have when we get bad news.  It’s what we have when we get good news.  Sometimes there’s no news and we can simply delight in knowing relationship with God, living our life as a continual prayer that others may come to Him, too.

Like an airplane pilot or ship captain navigating in fog by instruments and way points, believers in Christ have a trustworthy and true approach pattern for the Kingdom of God.  Through all the bumps, blindness, and fears, we needn’t doubt our landing place.

Yet … and this is what actually led me down this path thinking about “what believers have” … is the distressing fact of how many non-believers I know who have no “approach pattern” to God.  These are folks who cannot approach God because in their worlds God does not exist.  Or, they will not approach God because they are mad at Him, doubt Him, or in pride think humanity is somehow justified in dismissing Him.  Or worship something else.

It's rare to find a person who thinks they are already perfect, though I’ve met a few.  Almost everyone admits to sin, wickedness, evil, and that to some degree “they fall short” in some human, moral way.  What gets me isn’t just the not-so-nice believers I’ve occasionally encountered, but the truly generous, smart, kind, loving, and accomplished non-believers I’ve met: family, friends, neighbors, co-workers … whomever.  We all know someone we pray we could approach effectively to help them know it’s a winning move to approach God.

Starting with … God is really there.  Hebrews 4:6, above, prays that “we draw near to the throne of grace in time of need.”  I have an old friend, a life-long atheist, who is generous, smart, kind, loving, accomplished … and dying a difficult death.  I can’t quote scripture to him because he doesn’t believe scripture, but I pray for the words, love, and kindness to help him approach God in his short time remaining.  May our faith be infectious.  In our time remaining, we are all approaching God whether we like it, know it, believe it ... or not.

Of all the blessings believers can count, the ultimate blessing is to confidently approach God and know it is the ultimate winning move.  Help someone share that victory.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) lived his life for many years with no approach pattern.