James 4:88Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8) exhorts us to “draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” In this is shown the active dependence of the heart. Thanks be to God, we can draw near to Him! His throne is for us a throne of grace: We may come into His presence without fear, because of His love, and enter into the holiest by the precious blood of Christ. When near Him, we learn holiness; we discern His will; the eye sees clearly in this pure atmosphere. The heart is subject, for the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him. We walk with God, but as taught of God, and the whole body is full of light. Then He is with us; He draws near to us, and He inspires us with confidence. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” says the Apostle (Rom. 8:3131What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)). It is not only that the strength of God is with us, but His presence produces liberty and confidence in our hearts, for we feel that we have the knowledge of His will, since He is with us. The sense of His presence gives joy, calmness and courage, in presence of the enemy, and in the difficulties of the way we rest in Him. “Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man: Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues” (Psa. 31:2020Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. (Psalm 31:20)). The presence of God, a true and real thing for the heart, keeps the conscience awake and the heart filled with quiet confidence. Draw near unto Him.
But to do this, the hands must be cleansed and the heart purified, that in nothing we may be double-minded. God is light, and He will have purity and integrity in the inner man. Full of goodness and condescension, He is swift to help the weak, but He closes His ears to all who are double in heart. He looks for a pure walk and a sincere heart in those who seek to draw near Him. It cannot be otherwise; He holds Himself aloof from those whose hearts are not open in His presence. He sees everything, but for Him to hearken, the heart must be sincere.
J. N. Darby