HOW TO EXPERIENCE INTIMACY WITH GOD

LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  (Psalm 15:1)

God designed us with the capacity for intimacy with Him.  We find Adam and Eve walking in the garden with the Creator, but then sin disrupted that fellowship.  It still does.  The good news is that God sought out those first humans and He seeks after us today.  David shows us how to have intimacy with God in Psalm 15.

The question is whether we will respond to this Holy God—will I deal with the sin barriers in my life?  The implication in David’s question (v.1) suggests that we dare not rush rudely into God’s presence, but must pause and approach Him reverently.  Does He love us and desire our company?  Of course!  Yet, He is God so holy—above and beyond us.

Our walk must be upright (v.2a).  We do not slink around as a serpent, but stand upright with a spine stiffened by conviction.  Our feet move in lockstep with God’s commandments.

Our work must be righteous (v.2b).  Our hands are not used to serve ourselves, but to serve God by serving others.  It isn’t just that we refrain from doing the wrong thing, but that we actively pursue doing the right thing.

Our words must be sincere (v.2c-3).  Notice that what is on our lips is connected with what is in our heart.  There is to be no hypocrisy or inconsistency between what we think and how we talk.  Integrity demands that we mean what we say and say what we mean.  Our words are spoken to build up not to break down.  Backbiting is banished from our mouth.  Such a person does not take advantage of his neighbor or use his friends.  He or she has the best interest of others at heart.

Our associations must be godly (v.4a).  You cannot run with the wrong crowd and walk with God.  They are going the opposite direction.  We will be influenced by our associations.  If we are enamored with today’s celebrities who have the morals of alley cats then we will find ourselves thinking, talking, and acting like them.  If we honor holy men and women by meditating upon and modeling after them, then their influence will inspire us.  When I study the lives of men and women who were intimate with God, they create a hunger in my heart for the same experience.

Our possessions must not possess us (v.4b-5a).  The person who walks with God is a giver and not a taker because that is the nature of God.  He or she will keep their commitments, no matter what it costs them financially, because they know if they fail to do so it will cost them much more spiritually.  Such a one resists the corrupting influence of the love of money.  Their character is not for sale.

We will not always do everything perfectly, but we can do it better progressively (v.5b).  These traits will be the hallmark of our life.  When people think of us, these characteristics will come to mind.  Best of all, God knows the inclination of our hearts and the God-directed life will bring us into His fellowship.  Our feet will be firmly planted on God’s path, with no backsliding.  We will not find ourselves taking the Devil’s detours.

It is our privilege to have fellowship with God.  Through Christ our salvation makes us righteous before God, and by His Spirit our sanctification enables us to live righteously as we draw near to Him.

THE GREAT PURSUIT

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  (James 4:8a)

“Why do some persons 'find' God in a way that others do not?  Why does God manifest His Presence to some and let multitudes of others struggle along in the half-light of imperfect Christian experience?  Of course the will of God is the same for all.  He has no favorites within His household.  All He has ever done for any of His children He will do for all of His children.  The difference lies not with God but with us.”  That’s what A.W. Tozer said in his classic book, “The Pursuit of God.”   We have as much of God as we desire.  James tells us that in chapter four of his letter.  This is the great pursuit, and four things are required to “find” God fully.

The first requirement is COMMITMENT (v.8a).  God wants us and woos us, but we must respond to His love.  There must be a commitment that we want Him.  I heard a story of an old couple driving the beat up pickup truck down a dusty country road.  Old Eb is behind the wheel, and his wife is scooted over to the passenger side window, wistfully looking out at the cornfields.  She says, “Eb, remember how we used to sit so close?  How we would ride down the road right against each other?”  To that Eb simply replied, “I ain’t moved.”  God hasn’t moved.  We are the ones who need to scoot back over!

The second requirement is CLEANSING (v.8b).  Has there been a time you were in your dirty work clothes and had to make a run to the store?  You hoped no one you knew would see you—or smell you.  Sin is a barrier to intimacy with a Holy God.  Adam and Eve enjoyed walking with God in the garden, until sin came, and then they ran and hid.  Thankfully, God made provision for their forgiveness.  We can be cleansed.  That’s why Jesus came.  We must confess that we are soiled and the barrier will be broken.

The third requirement is CONTRITION (v.9-10).  Sin is not only an activity—where we do the wrong deeds—but, it is an attitude—when we have the wrong disposition.  If I do not take sin seriously, then I show I do not take God seriously.  If I do not humbly repent of my pride, then access to God’s gracious presence will be denied.  My heart needs to be broken by what breaks the heart of God.  It has been the eyes are the windows of the soul.  If that is true, then the windows need washing with tears of contrition.  Then we can see God clearly, and the light of His love will flow in unobstructed.

The fourth requirement is CONTROL (v.11-12).  James has much to say about the tongue and the need to control what we say.  He returns to that theme here.  When I speak wickedly about someone else in a judgmental way, I am inviting God to judge me accordingly.  When we visit the doctor, one of the first things he does is ask you to open your mouth and stick out your tongue.  He can assess much about the state of your health by looking in your mouth.  That is true concerning our spiritual health as well.

Let us not accept a cheap substitute for God by pursuing the things of this world—that is idolatry.  May we give ourselves fully to the great pursuit of the true and living God!