“A people near to Him” (Psalms 148:14)

In the Old Testament, very few people got close to God. When God manifested himself upon Mount Sinai, he told Moses, “you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying …Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 19:12).

In the sacred worship of the temple, the thought of distance was always prominent. Very few Jews were allowed in the inner Court and only the High Priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies once a year. This was to teach Israel that sin was so utterly loathsome, that God could only be approached after elaborate cleansing ceremonies.

When the Gospel came, saints were given total access for the first time in history. Those who previously were kept at a distance, were now invited into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus Christ. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19–22).

Do you regularly go to Christ? Do you know Him by experience? Are you living by His power? I pray, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18–19).

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