confident access to the Lord's presence

Has anyone else ever felt so bad, so guilt- ridden or so rejected, that you felt too ashamed to be in the Lord's presence, so you avoided Him like the plague?

We come by that feeling honestly - when we stay away, we are doing what our father Adam did when he sinned, and the Lord came walking in the Garden calling, “Adam, where are you?” He hid (Gen 3:8-9), and that is what we do too.

Of course the Lord knew Adam had sinned, but He still walked in the Garden calling for him. Sin does not cause Him to avoid us. It causes us to avoid Him. If we truly believed that all our sins have been wiped away by the blood of Jesus, we would not avoid Him. We would have confidence to enter into His presence without shame!

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom 5:1-2

access: permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place, or to approach or communicate with. - Webster's

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Rom 8:15-17

“For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Eph 2:18-19

“In Christ Jesus our Lord we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” Eph 3:12

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16

mercy: compassion, forbearance, characterized by a disposition to show kindness or compassion that forbears punishment even when justice demands it. - Websters.

grace: unmerited approval, favor, mercy, pardon, privilege, characterized by a positive disposition as a father toward his children and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions. - Webster's

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, 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. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Heb 10:19-23