Access

“(In Christ Jesus) we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” Ephesians 3:12

When my little brother and I were young, our family lived on a busy street corner. Because it was noisy with cars, we had a very tall hedge all along the front yard to shield us from having to look at traffic every time we happened to glance out a window. The hedge was always green and lush, never dying out in winter. This hedge also gave us a fairly private front yard to play in with our friends.

When my brother was about six years old, he was playing out front one day when a car came up over the curb and barreled unexpectedly through the hedge, coming to a stop in the yard very near where my brother stood in stony fright. His inability to move lasted only seconds, and then he took off running and screaming around the side of the house to the garage. None of us had any idea what had happened to him. He was crying, sobbing out the story, but we couldn’t make sense of it.

My brother knew that he would find our father working in the garage. He was a big, strong man with a deep, loud voice, and my brother knew that safety and protection would be found in the arms and voice of his father. He knew that he had access to our father. Our father could be found, and his presence could be entered and enjoyed because of the relationship they shared. Calming, peaceful words were spoken; hugs and reassurances were given.

What if the garage door had been locked against intrusion? What if our father had not been home? What if he couldn’t be trusted to take care of us? What if he had been asleep? What if he’d been too busy and preoccupied to care about what was happening to us? What if he said, “Come back later”? What if he wasn’t a good man?

Our heavenly Father never locks the door against intrusion. He is always home when we come running. He can be trusted to take care of us. He never sleeps, and is never too busy or preoccupied to help us when we call. He always cares; He never puts us off until a more convenient time; He is always good. If you are not certain of these things, spend time reading the Bible. All this has been written beforehand for us to learn and be convinced of, that we may have the hope and comfort of His presence when we need Him most.

Father, we are grateful that You have given us access to You through our relationship with Jesus Christ. Help us to remember in the very instant that we need You, You have already come to our aid. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.