Gen 3:10 And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
God is still asking us today - where are you in terms of your relationship with him? Like Adam, is fear, guilt or shame keeping us away from God?
Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this."
Even today, God is calling us to come to Him. But are we "qualified"? Are we worthy?
Psa 24:3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Psa 24:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.
Zec 3:7 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.
2Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
Let our prayer be:
Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
On our own we can’t do it, because:
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?
But the Lord tells us:
Jer 17:10 "I the LORD search the mind and try the heart, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."
The price of our sins, our iniquities have been paid for – on the Cross. Let us not try to hold on to them anymore. Instead, let us hold on to the promise of God – He is faithful and His mercies are new everyday.
Lam 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
Lam 3:22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
Lam 3:23 they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
No matter how colourful your past maybe, remember how powerful your God is. He is able to restore your relationship with Him simply because He loves you! Shame and guilt may be the tools of the devil to keep you away from God, but you don’t have to be fooled by the devil. God is waiting for you to come back to a relationship with Him – are you ready?
Joe 2:25 I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.
Joe 2:26 "You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Joe 2:27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.