An Invitation- Come Near to Him! He Will Draw Near to You!

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

I know some people are afraid of God. They think God is angry at them and scared God will punish their shortcomings and sins. Hence, they keep the Lord at a distance because they do not know the truth about God. Because of their fear of God, they try to do so many good things and visit holy places imagining doing these things would somehow appease God’s anger toward them.

The thought that God is angry at you is far from the truth. It is a lie that the devil place in your hearts and minds. Many bought into his lie.

God is not angry at you. Immanuel was the name given to Jesus. Immanuel means “God with us.” Why? God was wrapped in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The Lord God had said hundreds of years ago in the Scripture, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. Not even on one occasion was Jesus angry at sinners. Jesus said, “It is not healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32. Jesus did not come into this world for people who think they are already correct and proper. He came into this world seeking people who messed up their lives with bad choices and sins. He searched after them.

On another occasion, Jesus again said why He came into this world, and it is recorded in Luke 19:10. It says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10). Friend, the God, do not seek people who think they are fine and ok and do not need His help. Did you do something wrong? We all do wrong things unintentionally or intentionally because the Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Did you break laws? Do you cheat? Do you steal? Do you live immorally? Or whatever. Jesus, the Immanuel, God with us, came seeking such people who are lost in their sins. All hated Zacchaeus because he cheated people by charging higher taxes. Jesus sought after him and spent time with him on the road and at his home. Nobody would go to Zacchaeus’s house. However, Jesus did. Zacchaeus became a new man from that day. He never forgets the day he experienced the divine touch and love of Jesus Christ. (Luke 19:1-10).

Jesus made a divine appointment with the Samaritan woman who had five husbands and then lived with another man. Jesus sought after her. She was transformed inside out and ran from Him, leaving the water jar there and announcing to all in the town about Jesus, the Messiah. People from the city came and believed in Jesus. (John 4).

Do not be afraid to come near to God. He has only love, mercy, kindness, and compassion toward you. Do you know how people blamed Jesus? They said, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Luke 19:7. “This man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2). Why does He (Jesus) eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:16(c).
Beloved, God did not send His Son (Jesus) into this world to condemn you, but to save you through Him (John 3:17). You see, God demonstrated fully His love toward us (not His anger) because while you and I were still sinners and doing wrong things, Jesus Christ came and died for us. (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid for our sins and shortcomings with His blood. So come freely for his mercy, kindness, and deliverance, and accept Him as your savior and Lord today. He paid it all for you anyway.

God says come near to Me, and I will come near to you. It merely means this- My friend, if you choose to come to Him, the Lord is willing and ready to draw you into a closer and loving fellowship with Him forever and ever.

Bible says in Psalms 145:18, “The Lord is near to all who call on him.” Who is he near? Did you notice “all who call on him”? No one is out of His scope. Whatever your background-color, nationality, race, language, gender, age, social status, your history- the Lord is near to you and will deliver you by forgiving all your sins and wrongdoings if you call on him. It does not matter what you did in the past and where you have been. You are going to begin brand new when you come to Jesus. Remember, He is just a prayer away.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I know you care about me and love me. You gave me your only begotten Son when I was a sinner. That much you loved me. Jesus died in my place for all of my sins to forgive all of my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. I call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”