They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you?
Genesis 3:8.9.
When we had done something wrong in our childhood, we often tried to escape from our mother’s view by hiding. Then she would calmly wait until we emerged from our hiding-place. Finally we had no choice but to own up to our wrong and regret it. She would then hug us and forgive us.
Many people act equally foolishly; they try to hide from our omniscient God, some behind their religion, others behind their excuses or what they imagine to be good works, while many simple deny the existence of God.
Now the living God really does exist and is waiting for people to come out of their hiding-place. He is not only waiting, He is calling us, as He did then in the garden of Eden, He appeals to everyone through the message of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins. If we confess our sins to Him, God receives us. Just as the father embraced the prodigal son in the well known parable, God welcomes us and forgives us, because Jesus died for our sins.
By faith in Christ the sinner is pronounced free of all guilt and obtains peace with God. Great joy and the peace of God then fill the heart. And the practice of concealment comes to an end.