| The Golden Gate of Prayer |
Chapter 2 |
Page 2 |
This revelation never could have been made until Jesus came, for no man knew the Father save the Son. And no other one could have made him known. Always men could pray, and God would hear them, — the Old Testament has many an example of prayer and many assurances that God hears prayer, — but it was not until Christ had offered himself on the cross that the way of access was fully opened. It was as he was dying that the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom — a miracle-parable signifying that the way to God was now open to every weary one who would came. There was a reason, therefore, why this gate of prayer could not have been set up before Christ came and loved and taught and died. Through him we may call God our Father, and come as children when we would pray.
The name we use for God in prayer is very important. It is not the same whether we call him King, Creator, Judge, or Father. If we think of him as our King, royalty is suggested to us — majesty, splendor, and power; but not tenderness, not ease of access, not love. If we call him Creator, the name carries us back to the beginning, when all things came from the divine hand, and we think of strength, wisdom, goodness, beauty; but he is not brought near to our heart.
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