What is Abide? | Listen to this Episode | Watch this Episode
This week’s Abide comes from the passage in the Our Daily Bread devotional for April 1st which is Hebrews 10:19-25.
This passage sums up much of what comes before it in the book of Hebrews. It describes how God has opened up a new way for us to come before Him, and enter into the Most Holy Place – His very presence. This new way that we can come to him is through what Jesus did for us on the cross – his sacrifice in our place grants us the privilege to enter.
Now, the Most Holy Place is a concept that’s a bit hard for us to wrap our heads around in our current times. The best way to think of it is God’s throne room – the place where He dwells, and where he rules from. But for the original recipients of this letter to the Hebrews back in the 1st century, it brought to mind a very real, physical location. It was the innermost part of the temple, cordoned off by curtains, where the presence of God would appear on earth. It was so special, so sacred, that only the High Priest was able to enter it on one day each year, to offer sacrifices to God. To the Jews, this was the meeting place of heaven and earth.
All of that is to set the scene of what we’re going to read in the passage. So keeping in mind how sacred that space is, let’s read the passage – Hebrews chapter 10, verses 19 -25.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since 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 and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
What the writer of Hebrews is saying is pretty world changing. It’s not just now the High Priest, one person, who is allowed to enter into God’s presence on special occasions. Anyone can now enter in and stand in God’s presence – we now have direct access to God.
And the passage tells us we have confidence in our ability to do so – because it’s not because of anything we have done, but because it’s been achieved by Christ himself. There’s no maybe. No uncertainty, instead we can have FULL assurance, FULL confidence.
Think of a small child who’s meeting someone for the first time – in fact, my youngest was like this. She would be incredibly shy meeting someone new, wouldn’t say hi, wouldn’t interact or engage with them. But if she spotted me coming to her in a crowded place, she’d run straight for me, cling onto me, and talk away almost non-stop, telling me all that she’d been doing. This is the kind of confidence we can have in approaching God.
This truth is a great privilege – we now can be with God – but also an incredible invitation. We’re invited to draw near to God, through this new way that He has made for us.
Like last week, let’s use our imaginations for a bit, and sit with this. What do you think it means to enter into the Most Holy Place? What might that look like? Let’s take a calming breath, close our eyes if you can, and let loose our imaginations.
Bring into your mind the image of a dark, tall chamber. There are large, heavy, incredibly thick curtains in front of you, covering the doorway to God’s presence. But where they’ve always been closed before, imagine them being parted, being opened. And imagine now the hands of Jesus, his hands still showing the scars from the cross, beckoning you in, inviting you to enter.
See Christ standing there, expectantly. He knew you were going to come, and he’s asking you to come forward. Remember the words we’ve just read together, that we can have confidence to enter into this Holy Place because of what Jesus has done – because of what those scars on His hands represent. And as He beckons you in, take him up on his offer – accept the invitation, step through the parted curtain, and enter into that Most Holy Place that is God’s presence.
Sit with Him there. Sit with God like Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. Listen to Him, perhaps bring to mind a Psalm or another bible verse, and listen to Him. Talk with Him. Share your concerns.
It may seem a little strange, to have painted this picture of the Most Holy Place, and us coming and sitting down with God, talking with him. It doesn’t feel like somewhere we belong. But that’s what this passage tells us – we can enter God’s presence anytime.
The passage goes on to encourage us to come with a sincere heart, and later to continue to meet with other believers as we meet with God. But remember that any time you draw near to God, we can draw near to Him with the assurance, with the full and total confidence that child has running up to their parent.
So this week as you spend time with God, maybe try using this imagination prompt again. See yourself entering into God’s presence, sitting with Him, and listening to Him. And let that continue to reinforce and strengthen the hope we profess – for He who promised it is faithful.
