What does James 48 mean Draw close to God and He will draw close to you?

Answer 1

This is a reflection on the love of God. God loves us whatever we do or say. However, he can only manifest that love for us if we meet him half-way. As an example, imagine a father whose only son has left home and turned away from the family to live in a squat where he becomes a drug addict and, to feed his habit turns to crime. Despite all he has done the good father will still, in his heart, love his absent son although he does not see him. He will continue to love him and perhaps try to rescue him from the mess he has got himself into. Because the father loves his child unconditionally, he cannot force his son to come back. 'Come back or I'll disown you', 'Do this or I'll cut you out of my will' are not sentences of a father who shows true love. But the son must turn away from what he has done wrong and meet is father half way hoping for forgiveness and reconciliation. A good father will accept his son unconditionally - not once but over and over again if he is to show true love and that son is to be truly reconciled with his father. In the same way our relationship with God has been tarnished by sin. Only by repentance and turning away from those sins can we once again receive God's forgiveness and restore that relationship. We meet God half-way. If we attempt to come closer to God, then he will be there for us and ready to restore that relationship through his forgiveness and grace.