On the long journey of Israel through the wilderness, God provided the nation with instructions for the tabernacle, which we looked at here and here.
The tabernacle itself had two rooms, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place was considered the very throne room of God the King and was the holiest space in all of Israel.
Between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was a thick curtain made of blue, purple, and scarlet thread. No one could pass through that curtain except the high priest, and he could only do so once a year. While the tabernacle represented God’s presence with his people, this curtain represented their separation from God.
But one day, everything changed.
On a hill outside Jerusalem, Jesus died on a cross. He made the ultimate sacrifice. He became the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (Matthew 27:50-51)
The tearing of the curtain was a jarring symbol to the people of Israel. When Jesus died, that curtain, the symbol of man’s separation from God, was torn in two, and the way to the Most Holy Place was opened to all. Now anyone can enter the Most Holy Place at any time.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
The curtain is torn. Let us, then, “draw near.”
Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we don’t have to go to a priest to pray to God. We don’t need a high priest to enter God’s presence for us. We, as believers, can come before God any time, anywhere.
You can draw near to God at any time for any need. Your Most Holy Place can be anywhere. It can be your den, your desk, or your car. Wherever and whenever. What a privilege!
And not only that, but when you come to God, you can come to him in “assurance of faith.” You can go to him knowing, not wondering, but knowing that you’re forgiven. You can go to him with full confidence that God loves you, that he wants what’s best for you, and that he will give you everything you need.
We don’t draw near to God in boldness and confidence because of anything we’ve done. We haven’t been given this privilege because of our goodness. It certainly isn’t because we’re sinless. We can draw near to God only because Christ sacrificed his life for us, and we’ve accepted his forgiveness. Jesus, the great high priest, is sitting at the right hand of the Father, declaring your innocence.
So draw near to God. Spend time with him. Read, study, and learn your Bible. Get to know God better and better. And pray to him. Bring to him all your cares, concerns, praises, thanks, whatever is in your heart.
The curtain was torn in two for you. Now draw near to God.