Into His Presence

I shamefully come in tattered, filthy rags, pausing at the door of His presence.  I am clothed with how I see myself as I approach a perfect God.  As I shyly open the door, I am met by Jesus and covered in His righteousness as I approach.  That is how God sees me, clothed in Christ’s righteousness.  He chooses not to see the clothes I have put on, but only sees how Christ clothed me.

Too often I skip going in to God’s presence because I am focused on who I am.  I see myself as unworthy to approach a Holy God because I know  my own thoughts and actions.  I fail to see myself as I am in Christ.

Despite my insecurities, God welcomes me.  The arms outstretched are His, not mine.  As a child runs to a parent who waits with outstretched arms to embrace an imperfect child, so is God waiting for me.   He wants me to fearlessly and confidently run to Him.  He wants me to trust Him with all that I am, not because of me but because of who Christ Jesus has made me.

Moreover, God is not just there with open arms, He beckons me, “Just stay here with me.”  He longs for the day that I will trust Him enough not just to come boldly to Him, but to choose to stay in His presence.  He wants me not just to come for what I need, and linger before I go back to my filthy rags; He wants me to stay  in His presence clothed in the righteousness of Christ. That is where He made me to be.