Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice 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 amongst the trees of the garden.

The experience of Adam and Eve is the opposite of what everyone who came after them experiences.  We only know the emptiness of being separated from God and then, after our salvation, the fullness that comes when we can know God personally.  But for Adam and Eve, they had already known the joy and peace of a perfect relationship with God, and then that was severed when they sinned.  That immediate difference manifests in them hiding from God instead of seeking Him.

The most severe result of sin is separation from God.  It damaged Adam and Eve’s relationship with God, severing that close connection, tainting what had been so pure and good.  Up until this point, they had been free to commune with a holy God in the most personal and intimate way.  But now they are hiding in the trees afraid to draw near, afraid to respond to His voice.  Now they fear His presence and seek to avoid Him.

We all have to overcome that instinct that sin places in us to push God away.  Despite their sin, God came seeking, because even though their relationship had changed, His love had not.  Even though damage was done, He sought to restore that connection.  Even though sin had entered in, He had a plan.  Sometimes our shame and our guilt cause us to withdraw, to turn away and try to hide from God.  Sometimes the darkness of sin within us keeps us from responding to His voice.

But God is still seeking sinners.  He is not pleased by our sin, but He still loves us.  He makes a way, through His Son Jesus, for a connection to be restored.  He seeks to draw us back to a right relationship every time we go astray.  He calls to us and reminds us of His love and mercy no matter how unworthy we may feel.  Sin may have changed us and changed our world, but God is the same as He always was.  The chasm may be wide that separates us, but God is big enough to cross it.  So even in the midst of our most shameful moments, may we be willing to respond to our seeking Savior and allow Him to restore us again.