Ephesians 3:12 “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
Many years ago, when George W. Bush was still the governor of Texas and I was still a public school teacher, I took my fifth graders on a field trip to our state capital. There, we stood on the lawn of the capital building and watched Governor Bush take the platform. We listened to him give a short speech, while his lovely wife, Laura, stood at his side. My students were excited to be so close to such an important man – only separated by a red velvet rope. As we stood, we watched two little twin girls – Jenna and Barbara – rush past the velvet ropes to stand near their parents.
Now, he is the president of the United States, and there is still a red velvet rope – along with many men wearing dark glasses and carrying guns – separating that man from the general public. I have no freedom to approach him. To do so, I would need a special invitation and a major security clearance. (I wonder if all those speeding tickets would be held against me . . .) Even if I had the invitation and the clearance to do so, I would be a nervous wreck! What if I said or did the wrong thing? Would those men in dark glasses escort me out, and banish me from ever coming near the president again?
Before Christ came, there was a thick velvet rope – and more – separating us from God. We were sinful, dirty, creatures. He is and always will be a holy, perfect God. But when Christ paid the penalty for our sins, he extended an all-security clearance invitation! When we accept Christ’s gift to us, we are given full access to the very throne of God.
I am no longer just a sinful, dirty creature. I have been washed clean. I have been adopted into God’s family. Now, I am His child. I can push past the velvet ropes with confidence. After all, He is my Father. I have every right to be near Him, to love Him, to talk to Him, to sit on His very lap!
And I can have full confidence that He will receive me with delight, with open arms and a heart full of love. I am His daughter, and He loves it when I come to Him. I don’t have to worry that anyone will try to banish me from His presence. My father loves me, He adores me, and unlike many earthly fathers, He is never too busy to spend time with me. I’ve been given an all-security clearance.
Matthew 27:50 – 51 “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
Dear Father, Thank You for giving me the freedom to approach You any time, boldly and with confidence.
Amen
What a freedom we have to approach Him. What a privilege! Let us continually run to Him with unspeakable joy.
praise God we can appriach the throne room because of what Christ has done for us and at the same time work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Good post
Thanks, Mom! Yes, it is great to run to our “Abba”, our Daddy.
Amrita – Amen! God bless you, dear friend!
Excellent post, Renae. In the sermon yesterday, our priest talked about this very thing. He reminded us that in the Old Testament priests only entered the Holy of Holies once a year, and when they did, they wore bells on their robe and had a rope tied to their ankle. They expected God to strike them dead for approaching Him in the Holy of Holies, so they used the bells to let them know the priest inside was still alive. The rope was to pull the body out if God struck him dead.
After the veil was torn apart at the Crucifixion, we can enter the Holy of Holies without fear, knowing our Lord and Father is there. He will not strike us dead; instead He will love and protect us.
Thanks, Lillie! It is important for us to remember that the freedom we have now to approach God came at a great price. I am so glad that God loved us that much.
–r