A Study in Contrast
What is closeness to God?
As Christians, I think there is a deep desire in each of our hearts to grow closer to God. Really, it’s a fundamental piece of true faith. Whether we always pursue that with our lives is another question altogether, because it’s hard. It’s tough to set aside the things of this world and set “your mind on the things of God,” rather than the things of man (Matthew 16:23).
There are a plenty of reasons why it’s incredibly difficult to do that, but one reason that seems to be consistent for me is fear.
Fear? What should I have to fear about closeness with God? Because it terrifies me to see my darkness contrasted with God’s light.
In Ezekiel 36, we see this played out. In verse 22 we see God poised to heap blessing upon a disobedient people. In order to defend His holy name, He promises to pour out His Spirit. He promises to clean Israel from all their unrighteousness and bring them to repentance.
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
- Ezekiel 36:25-27
It’s a great promise, right? Honestly, I pray this same sentiment over myself and my family almost constantly. I want that for me. I want my wife to experience the outpouring of God’s Spirit. I pray for this blessing over my boys when they go to sleep.
But then fear.
Closeness with God is not without consequence. As we draw closer to God, His purity becomes more and more apparent, and our own impurity is revealed. Look at verse 31:
“Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.”
I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want to loathe myself. But the truth is, as I draw closer to God, my own sin becomes more and more apparent. Fortunately, the story doesn’t stop there.
Because I am grieved in my spirit over my sin, I draw closer to God. Do you see what’s happening? This is the start of a cycle that leads to godliness.
You see, as you grow closer to God, your need for His Spirit to make you clean becomes more and more apparent, which causes you to grow closer to God. It’s a powerful, transformation revelation.
The psalmist recognized this phenomenon. In Psalm 119, he describes what that looks like.
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” (67)
and,
“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” (71)
He says it is good to be afflicted because it draws us to the Word and draws us closer to Him and His statutes. The psalmist expresses a similar idea in Psalm 51 when he says, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” (3) He then calls out for God to create a clean heart in him.
It’s powerful.
Is it comfortable to have the darkness in us exposed by the pure light of God’s holiness? Not at all. Is it worth it to draw close to our Savior? Abundantly, yes. Nothing is more fulfilling that drawing close to God, even though the darkness in us is exposed. Why? Because in our affliction, in our weakness, in our repentance, we draw ever closer to our Redeemer.
The contrast begets godliness, and that is something to celebrate.
For more reading, soak in 1 John 1
