Freedom and Confidence

The throne room of God has become a recurring mental image for me. I tend to picture a great hall with large white Roman columns lining it. They are so tall that when you stand beside them and look up you sway a little. There are towering windows cut into the wall and a breeze moves freely in and out. The cathedral ceiling and mosaic floors seem to stretch on for miles. At the very front, their is a simple throne made of stone; a soft white marble against a beige curtain backdrop which glistens in the sunlight.

Sometimes I picture myself entering this throne room when I talk to God. If I’m feeling bold (foolish?), I’ll stride right up to the foot of the throne and present my thoughts and feelings to the Lord. If I’m unsure of what to say, I may hide behind the very first pillar I pass and send a messenger pigeon the rest of the way. Either way, when I enter the throne room I find myself somewhere in-between nervous/scared and completely impassioned (naive?) with vision.

I’m currently reading through the book of Esther (Check out the study here!). Her experience with the throne room of the king strikes a chord with me. It’s a historical reminder of the earthly power a king wielded and the bravery it took to approach him. Esther feared for her very life as she stood in the door way peering down the royal hall. Would he extend his golden scepter to her or turn a cold shoulder? [Esther 5:2]

Esther’s story is also a reminder of our approach to the throne of God. Esther feared the king and his judgement. Do we (our Heavenly Father)? Esther was purposeful in her time with the king (she held two banquets). Are we? Esther honored the king but boldly approached him with her mission clear as day [Esther 5:8]. Do we? Do we rush into the throne room, half paying attention, and shout our requests over the noise of our lives? Or do we enter with humility and honor to the throne room of the King of Kings? Are we so afraid that we don’t even enter to speak with Him when He gladly invites us in? Are we so naive that we dishonor the throne room with brashness and a luke warm attitude? Maybe some of us just need to enter and allow the King to show us how to truly be in His presence.

“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” -Ephesians 3:11-12

God tells us how we can approach Him, with freedom and confidence. Not fear and selfishness. I’ve asked a lot of questions today. Most of them are probing you and your experience with the throne room of God. If you’ve never been there, I encourage you to go. If it’s been a while, He invites you back, freely. Realize that the cross opened the door to the throne room and because of Jesus, God’s golden scepter will forever be extended to you if only you’d just enter with freedom and confidence.

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” -Hebrews 4:14-16

“Esther came to a proud imperious man; we come to the God of love and grace.”
– Matthew Henry