Your path into the Most Holy Place

“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”     He.10:19-22

     The Most Holy Place mentioned here in this text is the privilege of that very presence of God granted to those who have come to Christ by faith.  Under the old Covenant, access into the Most Holy Place in the temple was only granted once a year, and even then only to single priest.   Today, under the New Covenant, Jesus has made a way that believers are granted continual access into that same holy presence, guaranteeing them a personal audience with the God of creation.

         Our text here in the book of Hebrews describes that access as “a new and living way”, reminding us of Jesus’ testimony that He is “the Way” to the Father.  For the spirit filled believer, that way is the path each of us take when in sincerity we seek to approach God. This is the “drawing near to God” spoken of in our text. In what is sometimes described as prayer or praise, regardless of our method, access to God is granted to those who have by faith come to know Jesus Christ as Lord.

Jesus has made “a way” that we can transcend our earthly existence and enter into the very throne room of God. It is a way paved by His blood and well-worn by the saints and servants of God before us.  It is a way Jeremiah called “the ancient path” (Jer. 6:16), describing the path found by those who even before Christ believed in the promised redeemer.  It is a way practiced today by the born-again faithful that serves to both bless and comfort the individual while also promoting the priorities of the kingdom of God. The guarantee of its existence is perfectly defined in our Hebrews text by the word “assurance”. This path does exist and we can assuredly depend upon it.

However, although this path is equally available to all those who call Christ Lord, there is a “variableness” to its state in each believer’s life. This variableness does not exist because of some divine preference, for scripture tells us that God “does not show partiality” (Acts 10:34-35).   Rather, it exists because of what both James and Paul speak of as “the exercising” or our faith (Jms.1:3, 1Ti.4:7).  Those who “exercise” the privilege of access into the Most Holy Place are those who find that path well-worn and readily manageable.

We can compare this “new and living way” to hiking upon a game trail in the wilderness. When first traveling that trail, it is often vague and requires a slower pace and more carful study to stay upon its path. As time progresses and the path is regularly traveled and worn, that way becomes more evident and followable with each passing day. The same can be said about the “new and living way” into the Most Holy Place. Those who as scripture says “by constant practice” (He 5:14) have continued to travel this spiritual path, exercising their faith, will find its way more recognizable and accessible. The obstacles and unfamiliarity that originally hinder the sojourner’s way are trampled down because of the “constant practice” of exercising their faith .

There are many reasons for the believer to travel the spiritual path of the “new and living way”.  Praise, prayer, fellowship with God, seeking His wisdom, studying His Word, the need for encouragement, meditation, etc.  These are all activities of the Christian life that, when engaged with the expectancy of actually encountering God, will serve to better groom that path that leads into His presence. I am not speaking of religious activity that serves only to justify a man before himself and others. I am speaking of the journey into the spiritual realm where an audience with God is not only pursued but expected.

Have you “by constant use” tread down that “new and living way” that Jesus created for you?  Have you made it a familiar path that allows you to enter into the Most Holy Place of fellowship with the Father?  His gracious admonition to all of us is to “exercise” ourselves on this path daily so that we might “confidently enter the Most Holy Place” as Jesus has intended for all those who call Him Lord.