Don't forget your "Sanctuary Pass" !

Thursday February 10, 2022

Don't forget your "Sanctuary Pass" !

Search the Scriptures

Thus, brothers and sisters, we have by the blood of Jesus the assurance of free access to the sanctuary. Hebrews 10.19

Today, to access certain countries or places, there are passports (so named, because they applied at the time to the free movement of goods between ports) or health passes.

The Bible also speaks of a kind of special "Pass" to access the "Sanctuary", that is to say the presence of God. In the Old Testament, the sanctuary was a place where God was present when sacrifices and offerings were brought to him.

In Exodus 25.8 it says : "They will make me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them."

To be admitted or "to pass" into the sanctuary without risking death, it was necessary to carry out the "atonement" (Greek word which means "to surrender, to appease, to be reconciled" or "to become auspicious, to be appeased, to be favorable to someone").

The Bible says that atonement is made by the shed blood of an innocent in place of the guilty : "According to the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and there is no forgiveness of sins except blood be shed." (Hebrews 9.22)

God does not support sin, including defects. When a lamb was offered as a sacrifice, under the old covenant, not only had the lamb to be perfect, without a single blemish, but the priest who made the sacrifice also had to be without blemish. In order to gain access to the presence of God, the priest had to expiate his faults before proceeding to expiate the sins of the people : "Aaron will offer for himself the bull of the sacrifice for sin, and he will make expiation for him and his family." (Leviticus 16.6)

For us, believers under the new covenant, we must understand this reality : "Christ, like a lamb pure and without blemish, had to shed his precious blood as a sacrifice for you." (1 Peter 1.19)

Yes ! Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth and lived a sinless life. He then entered the heavenly sanctuary as the high priest for the human. Being without sin, he had no atonement to present for him, that is, the blood of an animal. In fact, he himself was the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. He presented his own blood!

Instead of reaching us, God's wrath against sin was diverted and directed to Jesus, who then took God's judgment upon himself for us ! So the good news is that now "we are assured by the blood of Jesus of free access to the sanctuary." (Hebrews 10.19)

Listen the voice of God

Let's take the time to listen to what God wants to say. Are you going to use your “sanctuary pass” today to benefit from the beneficent presence of God ?

Praying is simple. Speak to God as you would your closest friend. God loves you and he can hear everything. Here is an example of a prayer : "Jesus, you are the sacrifice of atonement that allows me to go into the presence of God. When I feel unworthy and "dirty", help me not to forget that by your blood, I am cleansed. Amen."

Praise God

To praise God is to express our gratitude to him. Today, what are your subjects of recognition ? Take a time to thank the Lord.

Act today

Now, deepen what you have received. What can you put in place to apply what God has told you ? Write down concrete actions you can take.

Honor the Lord

Our journey for the day ends. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Lord, thank you for shedding your precious blood as a sacrifice for us. To you be the reign, the power and the glory, amen !"

David Nolent

Source (The Thought of the Day)