Growing up I loved going to the skating rink. In elementary school you had to leave at 9 pm. The high schoolers could stay until 11. I remember wanting to get in so bad. But it was ” access denied.” I never liked being told what I could not do.
Before Jesus, the High priest could go into the presence of God. So one man one time per year could walk into a small room and meet with God. If you are not a Jew or simply not the high priest which is everyone, you never got to experience the presence of God. Why is that? I’m glad you asked. Sin separated us from God and the Law (standard found in the first five books of the Bible) kept us from ever gaining relationship with God. So I grew hearing that I could know God, but before Jesus they believed they could know about God. God could be found in a room by one guy once a year. Separating people like you and me from what was in that room is a 65′ veil (really thick curtain). That veil kept me from knowing God and sin kept me from the veil, and to make things worse because of sin that I can’t forgive I am stuck and helpless.
Have you ever felt the access was totally denied. Right before Jesus died…
Matthew 27:45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
Jesus wanted us to have access to the presence of God which has the power to free us from the bondage of sin and not just forgive us from the consequences. Jesus died so we could know Him and experience the power that would eventually raise Him from the dead. When Jesus asked why God had abandoned Him, Jesus was experience gap in relationship that we had with the father because of sin. The Father knew He would have to treat Jesus like us, so He could treat us like Jesus.
So right now, GO to Jesus and ask to experience His presence. Let Him change you and make you new. Don’t go with fear or shame because of sin. Jesus paid all that!! Get in His Word, Worship Him, and get to know His presence. He loves you despite your past.
Recklessly, obsessively following Jesus
Brandon Sereg
