My thoughts were provoked this morning. After a discussion with a friend over breakfast, my thoughts were captivated by this question: “What barriers exist between me and my Heavenly Father that are actually bridges of invitation to relationship with him?”
Sin seems like a natural barrier because I know that my sin separates me from the presence of my perfect Father. But isn’t it true that “I can come to the Father through the blood of Christ who cleanses me?”
If I’ve trusted in Jesus, my sin is no longer a barrier between me and my heavenly Father. The sin that I continue to struggle with is actually a bridge of invitation into the presence of my heavenly Father where I can experience forgiveness and transformation. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Psalm 103:11-12; 1 John 1:6-9)
What about guilt? Guilt seems to be a natural barrier too. Can I, a guilty person, really stand in the presence of God who is a perfectly just judge? The answer is no because, God, the perfectly just judge will execute justice upon me for my crimes. But isn’t it true that “Jesus bore my guilt on the cross? Didn’t he bear my guilt even though he was perfect so that the payment for my guilt could be paid completely?”
If I’ve trusted in Jesus to remove my guilt, then the guilt I feel is actually a bridge of invitation into the presence of my Father in Heaven where I can experience the complete removal of guilt. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17; Romans 8:1; Hebrews 9:14; Psalm 32:1-5)
What about shame? Shame seems to be a natural barrier too. Can I, a person who is full of shame, come into the presence of the God who is perfect without feeling judged or condemned? The answer is no. I cannot come into the presence of the perfect God if I am full of shame because I will be immediately crushed by the weight of His perfection in contrast to my shameful imperfection. But isn’t it true that “Christ became shame for me so that I can be free from the rule of shame?”
If I’ve trusted in Jesus to set me free from shame then when I feel ashamed of myself I can actually begin to see that feeling of shame as a bridge of invitation into the presence of my Father in Heaven where I can experience lasting freedom. (Hebrews 10:12-14; 19-23; Romans 8:1; 15; John 14:6)
Now, if I haven’t trusted in Jesus then sin, guilt and shame are still barriers. But if I’ve trusted in Jesus then his work at the cross and the power of the empty tomb unlocks these door-like barriers into bridges of relationship with my Father in Heaven.
If I’ve trusted in Jesus then these one-upon-a-time barriers have now become bridges of repentance that connect my heart to the heart of the presence of my Father in Heaven where there is no sin, guilt or shame. Jesus destroys the barriers of sin, guilt and shame at the cross so that I can travel down the bridge of repentance into the forgiveness, transformation and everlasting freedom that is experienced in the presence of my Heavenly Father who loves me. (2 Corinthians 7:10-11; Colossians 3:1-3; Romans 8:1-11)