You Have Access to God
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4). Jesus said it is the “pure in heart” who will see God and experience fellowship with Him (see Matthew 5:8). Because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23), who can approach Him?
In the Old Testament, everything about the Temple was set up to emphasize the near-unapproachable holiness and power of God. Only priests could enter the Temple, and only the High Priest on one day a year—the Day of Atonement—could go into the Holy of Holies behind a thick veil or curtain that separated God from the priests. This was a day of great fear, reverence and awe. The High Priest entered only after going through a great deal of ceremonial cleansing. Even then, he probably entered with fear and trepidation, not knowing if he would come out alive. The other priests actually tied a rope around his ankles to pull him out of God’s presence if it appeared that he had expired, because nobody else wanted to go in after him.
In the New Testament, there is a radical shift in access to God. The moment Jesus died for our sins on the cross, “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38). The relationship between God and humankind had been restored. As the writer of Hebrews says, “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 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-20).
Suppose you petitioned for months to have an audience with the President of the United States. Finally, you were granted your request and given 15 minutes alone with him. Since you have no personal relationship with him, what would you hope to gain by such a visit?
Now suppose that you had access to the God, who created the President of the United States. He has even taken the initiative to invite you into His presence (see Matthew 11:28). You know this God personally, and He has known you from the foundations of the world. You have an audience with Him 24 hours of every day, and He listens to you. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14).
Knowing that we have access to God, let us never lose hope (see Hebrews 10:23). We have a God of all hope, and with Him all things are possible. So if you are discouraged, draw near to God and you will find mercy and grace in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16). Because we have access to God, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together . . . but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
A few questions to ponder:
Who could approach God in the Old Testament?
How did the High Priest enter the Holy of Holies? Why did he likely enter that place with fear and trepidation
What was the significance of the veil in the Temple that separated God from the people being torn down? How do you think the people would have responded at the time?
How does knowing that you have complete access to an all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving God fill you with hope for the future?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.