How can one describe the magnificence of God? Awesome, omnipotent, amazing, eternal--we could go on and on in our language and every language on the planet and never fully describe our God. The whole concept that this Being who created everything ex nihilo would desire us to come into relationship with Him is beyond comprehension. He is everything, and all He wants from us is our love, because He knows that when we truly love Him, we want to do and be what He desires; and what He desires is all for our benefit and good. No other religion boasts of a god or gods who can be approached or who can love like the One True God Jehovah. 

Even as God desires us to draw near to Him, our sinful nature pulls us away, and we are apt to follow that sin. Isaiah 53:6a says, "All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way," but in Jesus is revealed the Good Shepherd who "calls His own sheep by name and leads them out, [and] when He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice" (John 10:3b-4); and "if one sheep wanders away, will He not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go and look for the one that wandered off? And if He finds it . . . He is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off . . . [He] is not willing that any of these little ones be lost" (Matt. 18:12-14).

We are invited to come to God, but we come on His terms. "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. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful" (Heb. 10:19-23). The idea of purifying ourselves before we come into the presence of God is not a new thing. The symbol of cleansing with water indicates inner cleansing. When God gave Moses instructions for the running of the Tabernacle, He said, "Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it.  Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering to the Lord by fire, they shall wash their hands and feet so they will not die" (Exodus 30:17-21a). Approaching a Holy God in the arrogance of our sin is death. We live in His presence only when cleansed by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.  "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up His soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior" (Psalm 24:1-5). Since we are washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, we can draw near to God, even "come boldly before the throne of grace" (Heb.4:16a). Hallelujah!

I used to walk in my driveway every night for exercise, and during my walks I would pray.  The driveway was steep, and one night as I struggled up the hill I was breathing heavily and thinking "higher and higher, higher and higher" and I felt the Lord answer "into My love."  Out of that night the following song was written:

They lifted You high upon a tree;
Now lifted up You draw all men.
Though time after time we refuse to see,
You reach down Your Hand and draw us again.

Higher and higher into Your love,
Higher and higher rising above,
I'm flying on wings like a snow-white dove,
You're lifting me higher into Your love.

Out of my sickness, out of my pain,
Out of my darkness, out of my fear,
You're lifting me out of the tempest sea,
You're lifting me up and drawing me near.

Higher and higher into Your love,
Higher and higher, rising above,
I'm flying on wings like a snow-white dove,
You're lifting me higher into Your Love.

Up, up and away, leaving the ways of this world behind,
Up, up and away, I fix my eyes on the prize.
I'm rising above on the wings of Your faithfulness
Up, up and away into You.

Higher and higher into Your love,
Higher and higher, rising above,
I'm flying on wings like a snow-white dove,
You're lifting me higher into Your love.

I come to You with a grateful heart
Full of assurance of grace and faith,
Sprinkled with blood and water washed.
I look with hope on Your beautiful Face.

Higher and higher into Your love,
Higher and higher, rising above,
I'm flying on wings like a snow-white dove,
You're lifting me higher into Your love.

Draw me close, Lord. I pray as David, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me" (Psalm 51:10-12). Amen