The Bible reveals some fascinating things about heaven. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to go through its pearly gates. Fortunately, we can enter into the presence of God here on earth.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19
The author of the book of Hebrews wrote to Hebrew Christians. He compared the Old Testament laws, which Jesus fulfilled with the establishment of the New Covenant.
The central area of the tabernacle and later the Temple consisted of two rooms. All the priests had access to the outer room, which God called the Holy Place.
However, only the High Priest could enter the inner room, known as the Holy of Holies. He could only enter it once a year to make atonement for the sins of Israel, including his own.
He would offer sacrifices and sprinkle blood on the Mercy Seat (the cover of the Ark of the Covenant). The high priest served as a mediator between God and His people.
A heavy veil or curtain divided these two rooms. But not an ordinary curtain, though. It measured 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and the thickness of a man’s handbreadth (about 4 inches).
On the cross, when Jesus breathed His last breath, something spectacular happened in the Temple. Someone ripped that curtain, dividing the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in half.
Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Matthew 27:50-51
We Have Access to the Presence of God
It signified that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross established a new relationship between God and all of humanity. In the next verse, the Hebrews’ writer tells us what that means for us.
By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 10:20
Until that time, only the high priest had access to enter into the presence of God. But now all believers can approach God directly through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament high priest had to atone for his own sins before performing any other duties. Jesus, on the other hand, lived a sinless life, which made Him better than the high priest.
And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. Hebrews 10:21-22
Jesus has changed our lives for the better because He has cleansed us from all sin. We can now stand in the presence of God, guilt-free.
For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22
Additionally, Jesus opened the way for us to boldly enter into the presence of God. The Apostle Paul told us in Ephesians that Jesus carried out God’s eternal plan for us.
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. Ephesians 3:12
Living out our Christian faith takes more than just knowing what to do. We apply that knowledge by putting it into practice. But, sometimes our sinful nature supersedes what we know.
Practice What You Know
If we don’t practice what we know, our spiritual desires and our sinful nature will clash within us. And we usually end up doing things we don’t want to, but we do. So, the next verse says.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23
God does not want any of us to falter and fall by the wayside. Christians together become the body of Christ. With creativity, we must do what we can to motivate one another.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24
How can we motivate one another? How about we open God’s Word and encourage one another with the Word that will never pass away? Let me motivate you with the following verses.
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. Hebrews 4:14
Sometimes we shy away from people in authority. Jesus doesn’t want us to shy away from Him. He understands you and the things you experience every day.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15
When you sin or turn away from what you believe, He wants you to come to Him. He invites you into the presence of God as you repent and ask for His forgiveness.
He understands our weaknesses and has faced the same tests we face. Don’t shy away from Jesus because He had never sinned. Instead, go to Him because He has never sinned.
Enjoy The Presence Of God
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16
I am ready to go to heaven. As far as I am concerned, Jesus could call the church home right now! But if He doesn’t, I know that I can dwell in the presence of God until He does.
Oh God, thank you for making your presence accessible to us through your Son Jesus. Help us to hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm in Him.
Check out these related posts on the presence of God.
- How To Enter Into The Presence Of The Almighty
- Open The Way And Let The King Of Glory Enter.
- Being in The Presence Of God Is Your Goal
- God Watches Over Us All The Time
- Safe In The Arms Of God
- May The Face Of God Shine Down Upon Us
Lord, thank you for making your presence accessible to us through your Son Jesus. Help us to be more than hearers of your Word. Motivate us to be doers as well.
Check out some other posts related to this subject
- How To Be A Remnant Of God
- God’s Purpose For Your Life
- What Is The Glorious Privilege Of God’s Faithful Ones?
- The Grace Of God, The Most Amazing Gift Ever
- Enjoy The Presence Of God
- We Are Made In The Image Of God
- How To Enter Into His Rest
- Let Your Light Shine For All To See
- Jesus, The Light Of The World
- Lord Where Are You?
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