This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
1 John 5:14

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4: 15-16

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There is a scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and her traveling companions enter the Emerald City and gain an audience with the Wizard himself. With trepidation, they walk into his presence, afraid and unsure of what he will say. They are intimidated by a giant, yelling, fickle, magical sight. Moments later, we discover, thanks to the curiosity of a little dog, that the wizard is nothing but a regular man who is good at illusions and tech-savvy trickery, seeking power at any cost. 

Had Dorothy known who she was really dealing with, perhaps she wouldn’t have been so afraid after all. 

Their approach to the wizard is how my imagination assumes what the throne room of Jesus is like—unknowable power, tentative steps, hesitation, fear. When I think about the power of the God of the universe, it’s easy to let my mind create all the reasons that I should be afraid to be in the presence of King Jesus. My inconsistent, tumultuous, finite mind cannot comprehend anything but an inconsistent, tumultuous God.

And yet, it is the words of the biblical authors that remind us that we have no reason to be so afraid after all. 

The New Testament letters are full of encouragement for Christ followers to be confident in their approach to the throne of God—trusting that the work of Jesus was enough to cover and redeem all that would keep us from God. In the incarnation, the human and holy drew close. In the death of Jesus, humanity was reconciled to God. In the resurrection, the condemning power of death was defeated. In the ascension, Jesus ushered in the kingdom of God so that we might have access to the power, authority and dominion of heaven in the here and now (Ephesians 1:18-20). 

Though the time of Christ’s return has not yet come, when Jesus sat on the throne, we gained access to everything under the sun, including the throne itself. We no longer have to fear the power and the holiness of God, but because of the all-encompassing work of Jesus, we can approach with the confidence of knowing we are welcome and wanted and that the King of the Universe doesn’t just reign with authority, but with immutable love and grace. 

Next Steps

Spend some time in imaginative prayer. Find a few quiet moments, close your eyes, and imagine yourself standing in the throne room of King Jesus. What do you see? How do you feel? Be honest with Jesus about what you observe. Reflect on the passages from today, and then imagine the throne room again. What happens when you approach the throne with confidence?