What Does It Truly Mean to Draw Near to God?

In the Christian faith, people often encounter a variety of information, such as websites and videos. A few days ago, I saw a brother post something on his WeChat Moments, and I asked him, Do you understand the information you are posting? He replied, I seem to understand, but then again, I don't.

I said, Then what's the point of forwarding it? This brother said, It just feels good. But he couldn't articulate specifically what aspects felt good. There is an abundance of information on drawing near to God and waiting on God, but it has also brought us many confusions.

There was a sister singing hymns in a room, one after another, day after day. Then a brother asked me to quickly check on this sister because he felt her condition was not quite right. I saw this sister singing in a room in the church, so I knocked on the door and went in to ask her how she was. She told me, I've been feeling very uncomfortable these past few days, so I chose to draw near to God, hiding in my prayer closet, waiting on God.

I asked her, Now that these days have passed, do you feel it has been effective? She replied that it hasn't been effective and she still feels very uncomfortable. Actually, we can't speak carelessly about this. Are there times when drawing near to God is effective? Of course, there are. It's not always like this. I asked the sister to place her hand on her chest, and I led her in prayer, rebuking the evil spirits behind her family. After five minutes, she was fine.

Truth Cannot Be Substituted

I find it very interesting that drawing near to God really brings a lot of confusion. Drawing near to God is indeed a truth in the Bible, but drawing near to God cannot replace casting out demons. Some say that when you draw near to God, demons will flee. This may happen sometimes, but more often than not, the demons don't flee. So some people become very confused about drawing near to God, thinking that it can solve many problems.

But in fact, if we go back to the Bible, there are many examples. For instance, when the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, they relied on God and used real swords and spears to drive out the local people before entering Canaan. But what if they relied on God, held nothing in their hands, and just sang hymns, drawing near to God? I personally don't think that's very reliable.

In other words, we need to start carefully examining things. We will find many confusing points. The Bible says:

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on the sick, and they will get well. (Mark 16:17-18)

Some people think that when you draw near to God, demons will flee. But that's not really the case. Drawing near to God and casting out demons cannot substitute each other. For example, eating and drinking water cannot substitute each other, but this concept confuses people. So where does this idea of drawing near to God come from? Someone felt good after drawing near to God, their whole state changed, and they felt transformed. Then they thought drawing near to God was everything and constantly practiced drawing near to God.

In fact, we cannot do it this way. Instead, we must go back to the Bible and see how the Bible does it. We need to remove the myths about drawing near to God. Some people think drawing near to God is very important, but we need to look at the effectiveness of things.

Many people think that as long as they persist in drawing near to God, they believe that one day all problems will be solved. But it must be in accordance with the Bible. When we remove the myths about drawing near to God, it doesn't mean we don't want you to draw near to God, but it means you shouldn't treat drawing near to God as everything.

Active Warfare Cannot Be Substituted

Resisting the devil is an interesting mode of thinking. This mode is passive. The devil is attacking, and you are there resisting. In the Bible, many times it is active. For example, casting out demons is active, rather than drawing near to God, obeying God, and then waiting for the devil to come and passively resisting, and then the devil leaves. That's not how it works. Through practice, I have found that it is not like this. I desperately cast out demons, and the demons may not necessarily leave.

What is the theological truth of the Bible? God gave Abraham this land, which God promised to Abraham and his descendants. Later, Moses and Joshua had to charge into the land of Canaan with real swords and spears to take the land. In other words, drawing near to God cannot replace real swords and spears. If it replaces real swords and spears, then it is not the truth.

Not relying on swords is true, but not relying on swords and not having swords are not the same thing. If you don't have swords, try charging forward. We do not rely on swords and spears, but that does not mean we do not have swords and spears.

We should draw near to God when we should draw near to God, and we should pick up swords and spears when we should pick up swords and spears. God said, Kill all the people in Jericho. When we draw near to God, will the people in Jericho die? No, that doesn't happen.

It's the same when we get to Canaan. We all take swords and spears to drive out the local people. In my belief, drawing near to God cannot replace spiritual warfare.

Therefore, we must clearly know that casting out demons and drawing near to God cannot be confused. Our church is a church that casts out demons. Casting out demons is related to spiritual authority and power. Authority is brought about by faith. We believe that God has given us authority, and you will find that faith carries great power, and power is directly related to being filled with the Holy Spirit.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on the sick, and they will get well. (Mark 16:17-18)

These verses speak of an proactive mindset, but drawing near to God carries a strong passive mindset, which is reluctance to engage in battle. We must realise that any theological system that cannot inflict significant damage on the kingdom of the devil, the devil will be very happy to mislead people into thinking that way.

The Myths of Waiting on God

The second area of confusion lies in waiting on God. Waiting on God is a truth in the Bible, and we are all to wait on God. However, if we say that David did nothing but wait for Saul to kill him, is that what it means to wait on God? David did not wait on God in that manner. David fled; does that count as waiting on God?

I have never seen anyone in the Bible criticize David for fleeing. David feigned madness among the Philistines; is that waiting on God? Many things David did—would you say he was waiting on God? That raises the question: we must have a clear concept of what it means to wait on God. Some believe that waiting on God means doing nothing and merely waiting for things to happen.

Let me share a joke with you. Once, a flood came, and the water reached the threshold of a family's home. At that moment, a small raft came by, and the person on board said, Get on the raft. But the person refused, saying, No, I am waiting on God. Then the raft left. Soon, the water flooded the second floor, and a boat came by. The people on the boat said, Come on, get on board quickly. But the person again said, No, I am waiting on God.

Soon, the water submerged the roof, and the person climbed onto the roof. At this point, a helicopter flew over, and the people on board said the same thing. Yet, the person still insisted on waiting on God. In the end, the person drowned. After drowning, he said, God, I waited for you; why didn't you come to save me? God said, I sent a small raft to pick you up, but you didn't get on; later, I sent a boat, but you still didn't get on; then I sent a helicopter, but you still refused.

This is just a joke, but it contains a profound meaning: do not turn waiting on God into passivity. We think that those proactive attempts are not waiting on God, but in fact, they are.

Abraham's Proactive Waiting

To give another example, Abraham had a son with Hagar, named Ishmael. Abraham was originally supposed to have a son with Sarah, but Sarah had not conceived for over ten years, so he had Ishmael with Sarah's maid, Hagar. Many theologians say that Abraham did not wait on God, they did not follow Mingding Destiny.

What does the Bible say? Abraham fathered Ishmael, and later God said, He will also become a great nation, and you shall call him Ishmael. God gave Ishmael his name, and God also said that he would become a great nation. If this is not called waiting on God, then what is it called?

In the Bible, neither Jesus nor Paul criticized Abraham. But many theologians say that he did not wait on God and went against God's will, just because the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Jacob are enemies. This proves nothing, nor does it prove that Abraham was wrong according to Mingding Destiny.

In fact, Abraham at that time was not clear how God was going to do it, so he tried. Whether the Hagar matter was from God, no one knew. As a result, Abraham fathered Ishmael, and he always thought Ishmael was his son. Indeed, he was his son, but God said, It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. So, what about Ishmael? Ishmael was not born through God's promise or through a miracle. However, when Sarah was beyond childbearing age, God allowed her to conceive and give birth to Isaac.

So, what does it mean to wait on God? I believe that Abraham fathering Ishmael through Hagar was part of waiting on God, except that he was constantly trying, and his attitude of trying was in accordance with God's will. David's waiting on God was running around, evading Saul's pursuit.

Conclusion

Therefore, we must remove the myths surrounding drawing near to God and waiting on God. This is very important for a Christian's life of faith. Drawing near to God and waiting on God is not a passive concept, but an active one.

We must begin to realize that passivity is not pleasing to God. In fact, God wants us to have this active disposition. For example, faith is something we actively believe in, not passively. That is to say, only the active counts. Therefore, waiting on God cannot be passive, and drawing near to God cannot be passive either.

In summary, is drawing near to God and waiting on God truth? It is truth, but only part of the truth. What does it mean to wait? I think that constantly trying and constantly practicing on the path of faith is waiting. For whatever is not from faith is sin, so no matter how we try, it is an active attempt.