| The Golden Gate of Prayer |
Chapter 3 |
Page 4 |
It is our Father is heaven to whom we pray. Thus our thoughts are lifted up above this earth. The Heidelberg Catechism, in answer to the question why the words “in heaven” are added, says, “In order that there may not be anything earthly in our conception of the heavenly majesty of God.” While the blessed name assures us of all tenderness, affection, and accessibleness, the place of God’s abode suggests to us his glory, greatness, and holiness. He is not like one of us. We bear his image, but he is infinitely above us. All the visions and representations of God in the Scriptures show him to us as dwelling in light to which no man can approach. Thus we are assured, also, of the power of God. He is our Father — infinite in love, but infinite also in strength, omnipotent. We are safe in his hands. No power can harm us if we are sheltered in his strong keeping.
This revelation of the fatherhood of God suggests to us what an exalted privilege prayer is. It is free and open access into the presence of the God of heaven. In our continual approaches to God we are in danger of forgetting the stupendous meaning of the act. Moses was bidden to take off his shoes before the burning bush because the ground whereon he stood was holy. Isaiah was awed into deepest reverence as he beheld the vision of God in the temple. Yet these are only glimpses of divine manifestations. Every time we speak God’s name in prayer we are in the very presence of a glory greater and more real then that of any theophany which human eye ever saw. It becomes us, therefore, to be reverent, to be sincere, to be true-hearted, when we pray. We may come boldly and with confidence, for it is to our Father we are drawing nigh; but we should come remembering that he is our Father in heaven, the glorious One before whom highest angels veil their faces while they sing.
We need to think deeply of this. We are so assured of our welcome to God’s throne and of his love, mercy, and grace, that we are much in danger of forgetting the glory of the presence into which we come. If for a moment, while we are praying, the veil were withdrawn and we had a glimpse of the stupendous scene, could we ever again pray heedlessly, irreverently?
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