"Drawing Close To God"

"With the merciful Thou wilt show Thyself merciful; with an upright man Thou wilt show Thyself upright;" (Psalms 18:25) There are several ways that we can view the meaning of this verse, two of which are based upon the direction by which we view the properties that are being put forth. In other words; if we view the meaning to be that by which God changes who He is based upon the character of a man, then I would say it will not work; for God's word clearly says that He does not change. We must consider the whole counsel of God when we interpret the Scriptures, and God has clearly said by His Word, "For I am the LORD, I change not". (Malachi 3:6) Even our Lord Jesus Christ does not change, although He is seen in many different forms to represent the many different levels of His character, Hebrews 13:8 clearly says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever". However, change must take place, and the other way to view the direction of these properties, requires that change must take place in us; which makes perfect sense when placed up against the unchangeable character of God. In light of that, the image of God's character comes more into focus to the man that adheres to God's character, and who walks in His ways. This is also the principle truth about how we are able to love God; because, unless we know God's love, we are unable to love Him, or even know how to love Him; nor can we even begin to love others as He loves us. If we know God, then we know Love; but if we know not God, then His love is not in us; and consequently, if His love is not in us, and we love not, then we are not in Him. In 1 John 4:10-11, John says, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another". In this case given of Love, God's love for us does not change, but rather, His love changes us; by which, as we then love, then is His love perfected in us. Notwithstanding, there is yet still another way to view the verse above; one by which a case is made for the way those that are merciful and upright may view God, or how He might appear unto them; which is much the same as saying, if we can not forgive one another, then we shall not be forgiven; not because we have not actually been forgiven, but because we never truly received His full forgiveness for all of our sins...No, wait a minute; maybe, just maybe, we could not see His true forgiveness because we still had foreknowledge of a need for more to be forgiven...