Heidelbergian Children's Catechism (age 8- 10 years)
Lord's Day 46
Wouldn’t you want to look around inside Buckingham Palace in England? Would you be allowed to ring the doorbell? And if the door was opened would you ask to talk to and visit with the queen? Don’t count on them letting you in! If people want to visit the queen in her pal ace, they have to ask permission first. The door will only be opened if this permission is granted. For a king or a queen is not just anyone. They are the highest, most important people in the country. God is our heavenly king. We cannot just walk in on Him, not even when we want to pray. For sinful people do not belong in his palace. They cannot be in the presence of the holy God. We need someone to open the gate so that we can go to God. And that gate was opened when the Lord Jesus took our sins to the cross! There He died for us. At that time the door to God’s palace was opened. Now we are allowed to directly pray to God. The Lord Jesus did even more for us. We may even call God “Father,” and be as close to Him as we are with our own earthly father. Our fathers do so many things that are nice and good for us; and yet, our heavenly Father is the best father. You can believe that for sure. Even though we may call Him “Father;” don’t ever forget that He is God. He is more powerful than all people. It is great that we can begin our prayers by calling Him “Our Father,” but keep in mind that those words are followed by “in heaven.” For this Father is at the same time a mighty God, full of majesty. We should respect Him greatly, for He is holy. Right now our prayers go up to the Lord; one day we will be allowed to stay with Him always.