¹⁹ … and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Spiritual gravity is a good way to describe the pull on our spirits to return to our Creator, whose image we bear. Augustine in the 4^th century put it this way, “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You” (in his classic treatise, “Confessions”). Even in their confusion, men who rebel against God, still search for the divine—but they look in every other place but the God from whom they came.

God feels that gravitational pull as well. Despite our rejection of Him, He continuously seeks us out like lost sheep. The Law was intended to show us that we were lost, and it could only give a faint glimmer of hope that some day God would bring a complete and final solution for our sin. Until then, God provided a temporary covering of sin. The yearly sacrifice of atonement (Lev 23), in our English Bibles called “Day of Atonement” (but in contemporary Hebrew parlance, “Yom Kippor”) comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to cover”. It provided a temporary covering over of sin, but it did not take sin away. It was not the final solution, and it did not bring us near to God. Yet, God was laying a foundation for bringing us back to Himself.

From the very beginning it was God taking the initiative. After Adam and Eve sinned, it was the Creator who came down to fellowship with them “in the garden in the cool of the day and called out to Adam, ‘Where are you?’” (Gen 3:8). He did not give Cain the silent treatment after he killed his brother, but sought him out to coax out a confession (Gen 4:6). This is the major theme of the Bible; it’s the story of God’s revelation to His supreme creation. He loves us and desires fellowship with us. God so loved the world while we were yet sinners (John 3:16). We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Yes, God feels the magnetism—infinitely more than we do.

Christ is like the electricity flowing to an electro-magnet, which operates only when there is power flowing to it. He enlivens our dead spirits through His Spirit (the KJV renders this concept as “he has quickened us”—Ephesians 2:1). We have been enabled to respond to that magnetism of God, drawing us to Himself. And this is what gives us hope, the anticipated expectation of complete reunion with our Maker. And that is what brings us near to God now. Nothing can stand in our way; there is no more uncertainty or wishful thinking. We can have confidence to draw close to God (Heb 4:16, 10:19).

Lord, I come into Your presence right now in the image of my mind, Your very throne room where You have welcomed me with open arms. Thank you!