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Direct & Unlimited Access
What really speaks to me at Easter is to know that I NOW have DIRECT & UNLIMITED ACCESS TO GOD.
Moses was given the Law at Sinai (Ten Commandments) and was instructed to build a tabernacle as a meeting place where God would dwell with His people and they may enter into His Presence.
The Tabernacle consisted of 2 compartments that were divided by a curtain called a VEIL. “Veil” in Hebrew means a screen, divider or separator that hides something. The curtain separated a holy God from sinful mankind.
The inner compartment (at the back), behind the veil was called “THE MOST HOLY” and represented the dwelling place of God. In it, was placed the Ark of the Covenant (which contained the tablets-10 Commandments, a golden jar of manna and Aaron’s rod) - Exodus 40:20. On top of the Ark was a Mercy-seat of gold with Cherubim fashioned on each end – they protected the righteousness of God.
The High Priest alone was allowed entry behind the veil just once every year on
The Day of Atonement.
The front part of the tabernacle was called “THE HOLY PLACE”.
Exodus 26:33 explains again: "And you shall hang the veil from the clasps…the veil shall be a divider for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy.
In the Old Testament, God’s presence was restricted or confined to only a select few (the Levite priests), who had to follow certain protocols in the Tabernacle and moved passed various stations that had symbolic meanings:-
Starting at the Altar, they made a Sin Offerings through sacrifice
Cleansed themselves at The Basin
They then moved past the Table of Showbread which contained 12 loaves of bread (representing the 12 tribes of Israel) and remained on the table before the Lord for a week and the priests would remove it on the Sabbath day and eat it in the Holy Place
The Lampstand of 6 branches was filled with oil twice a day and supplied light in the holy place
Next, the Golden altar of incense was a place of prayer and intercession going up to God as a sweet fragrance.
Once the High Priest had moved past these stations, he reached a curtain/veil that separated the Holy
Place from the Holy of Holies. He only had DIRECT & LIMITED ACCESS to God, once a year.
So why does the Tabernacle play such
a huge role in the death of Jesus, on the cross. Matt 27 says “when Jesus gave up his spirit, at that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” … a great miracle occurred. No longer was ordinary man separated from God.
From that moment we had UNLIMITED ACCESS to God. Hallelujah, how blessed we are!
This broke down the exclusive and restrictive barrier between man & God.
The Easter message and the Tabernacle are closely connected because, as the verse above says, the Veil – the Curtain tore. Jesus is now our only High Priest and through Him alone can we come into God’s presence. With Christ’s death we are now all blameless in His sight. So there is no more curtain or veil and the Holy of Holies is now open for all of us to enter in. Our bodies are now temples in which we invite God’s spirit to reside in us.
We were given this huge gift and can now boldly enter into the presence of God.
Hebrews 10:19-22 says: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body….,let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.”
And 2 Cor. 3:16 says: “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”
Isn’t it amazing that even though the curtain was torn by Jesus, and taken away and there is nothing left to stand between us and God, we sometimes hang a veil that prevents us from enjoying this unlimited and unmerited access of drawing near to Him and having fellowship.
We allow veils of insecurities & self-doubt to act as barriers. It breaks HIS heart as HE wants us to TRUST in the work that HE has Already Done! HE says: All shame off you! Ask Him to tear down all the veils that are keeping you from living your best life with Him.
PRAY AND ALSO DECLARE:
God, we thank you that THROUGH your Son’s death on the cross we now have direct access to You EVERY MOMENT. How blessed we are that we no longer need to wait for a High Priest to intercede on our behalf. YOU are now our High Priest and there is no VEIL that separates us. I resolve not to put up any new veils.
Your Word says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” So today I declare anew, that I am FREE! Free to be a more spontaneous person, someone who can laugh louder and who wants to love deeper. Your Presence in me enables me!
Thank you Jesus Christ for becoming my High Priest.
Final Thought:-
I got so excited when I realised that the Lord’s prayer is linked to the above sharing.
How blessed we are to have direct access to God and to pray these words – we no longer need a High Priest to pray for us.
Think about this:
How amazing it is to call God “our Father” - God no longer keeps himself veiled in the “Holy of Holies”
We pray:-
Our Father
which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
(physical food but also spiritual food directly from God)
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us
(we have direct access to God for forgiveness of sin)
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
(the devil is overcome)
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Acknowledgements: This is Your Bible.com & A. W. Tozer