“…He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:4
One of the great values of having the Scriptures, written over such a large expanse of time, is that they reveal to us the very tangible experiences of those believers who have sought God, and found Him, or were met by Him in a very specific way. These experiences are often the result, either of a great consciousness of need that is beyond the possibility of human resources to meet, or they stem from an overwhelming vision, or revelation, of God in His glory and goodness. In either case, the great design and desire of God is that man will not only seek God, but find Him. We must then ask the question: Has God provided a way to Himself that is so very clear, concise, and convincing, that we can come with assurance, an assurance that God alone gives, and which He blesses? The answer is “yes.” In answer to that question is revealed something of the magnitude of the power, commitment, and compassion of God, towards man. The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Rome: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (8:32) Paul, by the Spirit, is revealing to us that this “way to God” that He has provided in His perfection, and unchangeable effectiveness, has been accomplished, “finished,” at immeasurable cost to the Father, Son, and the Spirit. This is the first great truth that must be grasped when considering coming to God, and finding Him. God has loved “the world,” and for this reason, He has taken the initiative not only to craft, design, and bring to pass “…a new and living way,” to Himself, but He has provided ALL in Jesus Christ for man to be able to come before Him with confidence, even boldness. At the cost of His own precious blood, the Lord Jesus, “…entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” ( Heb. 9:12) There was no other sacrifice which could have secured the passage for the sinner into the presence of God. It was singularly, uniquely, by the blood of Christ. But this He did, becoming not only the sole mediator between God and man, but also our High Priest, ever living to make intercession for us. The moment that Jesus cried out on the cross, “It is finished,” was the moment when our access to God was created, established for time and eternity. There has never been another way to God, and never will be. Thus, the assurance that we have as believers, to be able to come to God, in the secret of His presence, drawing nigh unto Him, worshipping the Father, is secured, guarded, and established for time and eternity by the Son, who by the power of the Eternal Spirit, has accomplished it. It is for this reason that we rejoice in the truth that nothing “…shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:39) How then must we come to God, especially early in the morning, and find Him there? And how can we know God, abide in Christ, walk and commune with Him?
In the pursuit of God, we must consider first the issue of desire, a thirst for God. David wrote in Psalm 63:1, “O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thisteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” Knowing the objective truths of coming to God, though essential, is not enough to know the reality of the very real victorious life of Christ by the Spirit, born out of fellowship with Him.
If we would seek the Lord with assurance, the thirst for Him must be accompanied by clean hands and a pure heart. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Ps. 66:18) Christ’s blood deals with all sin, His Spirit creating the pure heart to believe.
Dear Father, Make us bold in our approach to Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.