How To Go There

“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…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” Hebrews 10:2

A priest in the Temple would have been terrified.

Three hours earlier the sun had stopped shining as a thick, deep darkness settled on the town. Flickers from a few oil lamps couldn’t dispel the fact that something was amiss. Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the floor shifted beneath his feet. At that moment, the priest heard a rip—the unmistakable sound of fabric being forcibly torn in two. Thinking he was alone, he whirled around to find that he was—except for the invisible, infinite Hands clutching the temple curtain. Almost instantly, the thick veil hung limp and wide open. The light of God’s glory spilled into the darkened room, and the altar of atonement appeared before the priest’s eyes. Only one man a lifetime had been allowed to see the sight at which he now stared. Terrified and mesmerized at the same time, the priest wanted to turn and run but felt drawn to come.

“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…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.”

Unlike a priest in the temple on Good Friday, we don’t have to debate or doubt. We can come close to God because the cross gives us confidence and assurance. But though we can come at any time, we shouldn’t come in any way. We should only come sincerely. “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart.” Sincere means honest and genuine, not counterfeit or pretend. Sincerity is serious—not somber and sullen but also not flippant or careless. Our affluent culture is content with a God whose casual acquaintance can enhance our already comfortable circumstances. Help during hardship and hope for the hereafter are expected and demanded on our terms. Often we speak of Him and speak to Him as though He were a buddy on the other end of the line or a portly grandpa passing out candy or cash anytime we ask. (I’m not trying to sound preachy, and I tried really hard to pass over this verse and pick another, but I knew I shouldn’t and couldn’t.)

God ripped the curtain to call us close, but the One on the other side hasn’t changed. He is still the holy, eternal, majestic, and powerful Lord God Almighty. Because of Christ’s blood, we are free to come to Him, but such privilege should find us coming earnestly and never indifferently. “The good Lord” and “the Man upstairs” is much, much more than someone who is nice from a distance. Yes, the One who reigns supreme over all is good, and, yes, One who became like us is standing in the gap for us in heaven, but such phrases sound as though we don’t take seriously enough who He is and what He has done.

The reality of our redemption should sober us up and make us sincere. Please realize that we can sincerely be many things – curious, joyful, desperate, angry, excited, sinful, sorry, exasperated, discouraged, and expectant. But we must be sincere. The cost of Christ’s sacrifice precludes a nonchalant approach to God.

The door to God’s throne room is wide open.
Go there many times.
Go there sincerely every time.