you were made for nearness.

My idea for this post came from reading one of my Bible Study books this past week. The book is called “Keeping the Blood Warm” by Peter K. Louis and in this particular section, we focused on the consciousness of Jesus’ blood.

Peter states in his book, that as new priests under a new covenant, we were designed for nearness. We were created to draw near to God. When we draw near to Him, the promises of God can become real in our lives.

Psalms 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

If you are lacking joy, then you are lacking the consciousness of nearness. It is impossible to be in God’s Presence and lack joy, peace, strength, hope and love.

How man of us can relate to that? Maybe you are lacking joy in your life or even in your relationship with Christ.

James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you..”

James beckons us to draw near to God just as the priests in the Old Testament would draw near to God in the temple sanctuary. When we come before him with a humble heart, in submission to His will, and with a desire to glorify Him as Lord over our lives, we are able to experience the closeness of God and all the blessings that follow. 

But how do we draw near to God?

Our main Scripture today will be Hebrews 10:19-23 :

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body ,21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 

This Scripture gives us an outline on how we can draw near to God and His Presence. Verse 19 and 20 states two truths that are the basis for us to draw near :

1. The blood of Jesus has been shed for you, so that your sins are forgiven and the holiness of God will not consume you but thrill you.

2. The way to God is new: it is not the old covenant way with dead animals and priests who die and have to be replaced. It is a living way, with one sacrifice and one priest: Jesus. And he is alive and he intercedes for you. He is our Great High Priest.

Since this is true, we can draw near to God.

So, how do we draw near?

1. We must draw near with a Sincere Heart.

22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart… (Heb. 10:22)

We must first draw near “with a sincere heart.” The word sincere means true or dependable. It is more than simple sincerity, though it includes this. Many religious people come to God in sincerity, but not in truth. Our God demands both. A true heart is not divided between God and the world, but is wholly dedicated to Him alone.

2. We must draw near with Confident Faith.

(v.22) “…and with the full assurance that faith brings…” (Heb. 10:22)

We can now draw near and approach God on the basis of faith in what Jesus did to make us acceptable, knowing that nothing stands in our way. This is a powerful! By faith we can come to him in absolute conviction that we are not guilty of sin and we are not polluted by its effects. Because of Jesus we are righteous and holy!

3. We must draw near with a Clean Conscious.

(v.22) “…having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience…” (Heb.10:22)

We can only come to God in sincerity of faith if our hearts have been “sprinkled clean”. The word “sprinkle” speaks of the purging of our hearts from an evil conscience. It is in the perfect tense in the Greek, which indicates a completed state or condition; in other words, guilt is gone. In Christ, the believer’s conscience has already been cleansed of guilt. When a sinner comes to Jesus and receives salvation, guilt is removed!

Romans 8:1 says, 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,…”

Even if feelings of guilt remain, the actual legal guilt is gone because, in the body of Jesus, God judged the sin that caused our guilt. Sometimes I feel like we as believers still experience guilty feelings over our past because we do not fully realize the extent of our cleansing. That’s why we must continually remind ourselves and others about the sacrifice of Jesus, so that we will learn to live in the freedom that already belongs to us in Christ.

4. We must draw near with a Clean Body.

(v.22) “…and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb.10:22)

The word “washed” is also in the perfect tense, indicating that it too is a requirement that has already been met. This condition, as well as the previous one, speaks of the Levitical ceremonies that prepared priests for service and both are symbolic of the process where they were sprinkled with the sacrificial blood and thoroughly washed before ministering to others. Where the priests had to repeat their cleansing on the Day of Atonement, we now have permanent and direct access to God through Christ because we have been thoroughly cleansed by Him. 

Jesus’ body has become the veil where we can pass through in faith into the very presence of God the Father. This is an amazing truth! Jesus opened up a new and fresh way of approaching God. We may now enter, not by the blood of bulls and goats but by His body and blood which cleanses and absolves us from all guilt associated with sin. The atoning work of Christ is so complete that it continues to cleanse us still to this very day.

Because of all of this, we are called to draw near to God in confidence and boldness. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can enter into the Presence of God!

“Drawing near is not moving from one place to another. It is a directing of the heart into the presence of God.” - John Piper

The Old Covenant priests could only enter the holy places once a year and only through the way of a blood sacrifice. But because of Jesus has entered into the true holy place with his blood, He has secured a path for us to draw near to God at all times.

When we lose the consciousness of nearness, we miss out on on the fullness of Jesus. We miss out on His sacrifice, His love, His joy, His peace, etc.

Maybe some of you - (me included) sometimes chase a feeling instead of working hard at your relationship with Christ. Just like any other earthly relationship, it requires commitment and work. Our relationship with Christ requires full abandonment, full trust, full faith, and a full consciousness of His sacrifice for us.

God desires to be near to you! He hasn’t left you. He is simply waiting on you to come closer. You have a pathway before you right now. You have full access to His Presence!

“It is the consciousness of His blood, so superior to the blood of bulls and goats, that at any time we recall its efficacy, we may enjoy the presence of God.” - Peter K. Louis “Keeping the Blood Warm”.