so that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
After my phone call, I dashed to my daughter’s room. I
couldn’t wait to tell her my exciting news. But her door was closed, and the
light was off—a sure sign she was taking a nap and didn’t want to be disturbed.
Dejected, I turned away. Have you ever really wanted to talk to someone, but
they weren’t available?
During Old Testament days, the Israelites must have felt the
same way. They could never go into the Presence of God. There was a barrier
that separated them from God. We might say there was a closed door.
In the temple a curtain hung between the Holy Place and the
Holy of Holies, which was the place where the Presence of God dwelt. The Jewish
high priest could enter the Holy of Holies only once a year on the Day of
Atonement. He entered with the blood of a goat he had sacrificed for the sin of
the nation of Israel. No ordinary Jew could ever enter the Presence of God.
Then the Messiah came. God Himself in human form came to
live with man. He walked with man. He talked with man. He taught man the truths
of God. He showed man how to live, for He lived a sinless life. Then the
Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, died for man. At the moment of His death, the
curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. God had opened the door!
No longer did man have to go through a priest to seek
forgiveness. No longer was man barred from the Presence of the Holy God. The
way to God was open through the shed blood of Jesus, which is sufficient to
atone for man’s sin (Hebrews 9:12, 10:11, 12). Any person who believes in Jesus
has his sins forgiven and has immediate access to the Presence of God.
So, there are no closed doors. The door of fellowship with
God stands wide open! His light is always on! How about going into His Presence
right now! He is eagerly waiting to commune with you!
Jan Burkhart
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