Anyone who wishes can visit London and go to Buckingham palace to watch the changing of the guard. However, to get in to see the Queen of England is impossible for the average person. There are many people who make sure that only those who have been granted an audience with her majesty can enter the presence of the Queen. So I will never see the queen of England. But what is truly astonishing is that as a believer I have the incredible privilege of entering the presence the Sovereign King of the Universe at ANY TIME. It has not always been that way. As a matter of fact Nadab and Abihu, who were sons of Aaron the High Priest of Israel, made the mistake of thinking they could enter God’s presence anytime they felt like it. As a result God destroyed them both for their sin and arrogance. God then went on to put in place the Old Testament Law which made it clear that only the High Priest could enter His presence in the Tabernacle and that was ONCE a year on the Day of Atonement after he offered ALL the proper sacrifices. Keep that context in mind as we look at these verses together.
Hebrews 10:19-25 (NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. [20] By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. [21] And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, [22] let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. [24] Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. [25] And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
We can now come BOLDLY into God’s very presence - not because we deserved it or have earned it but because Jesus has opened up the way by His own blood. When He died on the cross Jesus cried it is finished and then died. At that precise moment the Veil in the Temple was torn from TOP to bottom. These verse explain why God ripped the veil. Jesus had opened the WAY for us into God’s presence. So we can boldly and confidently enter God’s presence. We can do this because Jesus opened the way by His own Blood and because He is our High Priest. Our response is spelled out clearly. Since those things are TRUE: We MUST draw near to God - We MUST Hold Firmly to the TRUTH we profess because God is COMPLETELY Trustworthy - We MUST NEVER give up meeting together but instead seek ways to encourage and motivate each other to honor God by the way we live.
PRAYER: Thank You Father that I can come confidently into Your presence at anytime and be welcomed all because of what Jesus did for me. Thank you Lord Jesus that You came and willingly paid for ALL my sins with your blood. Please Lord God help me to be a constant source of encouragement to my brothers and sisters.
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