Normally my office door stays wide open because I enjoy having people stop in and visit for a while. However, on occasion a project demands my full attention, so I close my door. For a number of years, that closed door would periodically burst open, and people would come running into my office, yelling loudly and somewhat unintelligibly. But instead of ducking for cover or responding in kind and sending them quickly on their way, I would pull my two girls into my lap and we visit about the events of their day.
That’s the way it is with a father. His children have access to him when others do not.
And it’s that way with our heavenly Father as well. His children may come into his very presence because we are His children. But it hasn’t always seemed that way.
In the Old Testament, the temple revealed physically what the Jews believed to be the spiritual relationship between God and man. Gentiles and Samaritans were permitted only into the outer court of the Gentiles, separated by a wall from the next section, which allowed only Jewish women. In another area closer to the heart of the temple, Jewish men were allowed to enter. But only the priests could enter the sacred areas. And only one priest, once a year (on Yom Kippur), and only once in his life, was allowed access to the Holy of Holies and the presence of God.
Yet once for all, Jesus Christ eliminated all those divisions (Heb. 10:19, 22). At the moment of His death, God ripped the veil in the temple (Mt. 27:51). That which prevented access to the presence of God was forever removed. And now all men who know their sins have been cleansed, forgiven, and removed by the blood of Christ may enter boldly and confidently into the presence of God. And because we can (Heb. 10:19), Scripture says we should (10:22). There is no more need for ceremonial washings, for our hearts are clean. There is no more need for artificial divisions, for God Himself has removed them. “Come,” God says. “Come close. I have made it possible.”
Here is a most remarkable truth: because of Christ’s one-time death, we have all-time access to God.
Words of Grace 