Genesis 3:9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

In the beginning God came looking for man.

Adam had eaten of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam’s eyes were opened to original sin, disobedience. Adam tried to hide from God. While Adam felt shame God gave Adam a covering for his shame but did not offer him forgiveness. Adam was cast out of the garden before he could partake of the tree of life.

The time for the tree of life to be made available to mankind to find forgiveness did not come until Jesus died on the cross as atonement for all of mankind’s sins.

God never stopped looking for man.

Man stopped looking for God.

It did not occur to me that accepting this gracious free gift of salvation was my opportunity to forgive myself for the sins I had committed. That changed over time. Perhaps it changed when I realized that God was seeking me every day and I was hiding like Adam did because I was still ashamed, naked and afraid.

God remained faithful. His steadfast love won me over and if I didn’t find it in myself to forgive myself, then I was never going to enjoy the fullness of this relationship that was available to me.

We cannot hide from God so stop trying.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.