For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works. (Psalm 73:27–28—NKJV)

Think of all the meanings of “draw.” A consultation of my dictionary lists fifty-eight definitions for this simple, four-letter word. Such a multifaceted word used to describe our relationship with our God harbors as many meanings as the hues in a rainbow. Not surprisingly, the English word translates many different words in both Hebrew and Greek. Allow me to touch upon some of the rich meanings.

To draw can mean to sketch by drawing a pencil along a paper for the purpose of producing something of meaning. In bygone days a person would go to a deep well with a bucket and rope for drawing water out of the well up to himself in order to quench his thirst and the thirst of his family. Farmers would hitch a horse to a wagon, sleigh, or plow so that the instrument could be drawn directly and closely along the course of the animal, without separation, solely at the farmer’s pleasure. Hardly a day goes by in this modern age that we do not open a drawer in order to get at what is stashed inside. Finally, good leaders draw out from their employees latent creativity. I am sure you are now beginning to draw your own conclusions!

Our first verse points out the need for drawing near to God. All men are born in a natural state of being far from their Creator. The Bible calls this state “death,” as in “dead in trespasses and sins.” The more one journeys through life apart from God and pursues the ways of sin, the farther he goes from his Creator (God is not in all his thoughts—Psalm 10:4). Verse 27 states that being far from God leads to destruction.

When a “far-off” man comes in contact with the Living Word of God, the Truth is brought near to him. An instance of this is illustrated in Mark 12:34 where our Lord says to the scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Bible truth is the engine of drawing a person to God, much like a semi-truck passing a micro car on the freeway. In John 12:32 Jesus states, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

When the Holy Spirit exerts the truth of the Word upon the heart of a man, He brings life and draws him along after the Father. John 6:44 states, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” This meaning is akin to the farmer tethering his horse to a wagon. Then, the newborn in Christ will pursue nearness to God just as a baby desires to be close to his mother. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:8).” “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you (Jeremiah 31:3).” “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22).”

An interesting word picture is employed in Hebrews 10:39, “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” To “draw back” is to take the action of a sailing ship reefing in the sails when it is driving before the wind. Reducing the sail reduces speed and causes the ship to draw back and away from the vessel it is chasing. A believer will be characterized as one who is “hard-charging” in hot pursuit after God and does not let up.

Are you valuing the “goodness” of drawing near to God by being daily hitched to His Word of Truth and pursuing Him with all your heart? Trust and obey.