The Approachable God

Have you known anybody who was just hard to please? A parent who looks past the good and sees disappointment; a demanding employer who is never happy with your best work; a coach who shouts criticism after your best performance. However hard we try we fall short.

Israel knew better than any other people how stringent was God’s requirement to be holy because he is holy. There must have often been a sense of not measuring up to God’s standards. It must have seemed difficult to approach God.

Yet, God has always been a God of grace. Many renowned believers were confident in his mercy. David said, “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps. 51:17) and, “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him” (Ps. 32:2).

Job wrestled to reconcile his experience of suffering with what he knew to be true about God. He concluded, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God” (Job 19:25-26). How insightful for someone who lived hundreds of years before God fulfilled precisely that longing!

Jesus provided a depth and assurance to faith that was previously lacking. His coming certified and guaranteed their hope. His life and death proved the goodness of God in a way that previous faith pilgrims could not have grasped.

Jesus revealed the heart of God with an immediacy never before seen. He said, “The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work” (John 14:10). So it is God himself who entreats, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” It was God who gathered around himself the worst of sinners and released from judgment those condemned by self-righteous religious leaders.

God, who willingly surrendered to the cross, with the hateful mob surrounding him, said, “Forgive them.” No one falls outside the limits of God’s grace. The (ex-murderer) Apostle Paul felt that inclusive acceptance when he said, “I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

Jesus relays our messages to God. Hebrews describes Jesus as the great high priest, perfectly qualified to intercede for us (4:14-16). He provides the “I know how you feel” in our conversations with God. Jesus experienced human existence first hand with its pain, weakness, grief and fear and communicates our hearts to God.

Jesus is our advocate. To persuade a powerful person find someone who has influence with that person. No one has more influence with the Father than the Son. Between them is perfect love, trust and unity of purpose and thought.

When we come to God we are preceded by Jesus. Jesus says, “I want you to hear her. Her wishes are important to me. Will you do what she asks?” The filthy garments of sin have been discarded. God sees only the dazzling whiteness of a soul washed clean by the blood of his Son. Whomever the Son receives the Father also embraces.

Jesus is our triumphant leader. He shows us the way on his knees, on a humble donkey, on the cross. But we also have a vision of who he is now. No longer riding a donkey he charges astride a white horse, eyes blazing, head crowned, heavenly armies assembled in full strength behind him. Emblazoned with the title “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” there is no doubt who will emerge victorious when the dust of battle settles (Rev. 19:11-16).

No more of the temple’s slaughtered animals, smoke veiling God’s presence and fear. With faith in Jesus we boldly approach the Almighty. With our Friend, our Intercessor, our Champion at our side we “draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22) and we long for the day when “in [our] flesh [we] will see God.”