As New Testament believers we are no longer living under the dispensation of the old covenant where our relationship with God could be characterized by one word – distance. Charles Spurgeon on speaking of this concept of God being distant from His people under the old covenant once commented: “When God appeared even to his servant Moses, he said, ‘Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet;’ and when he manifested himself upon Mount Sinai, to his own chosen and separated people, one of the first commands was, ‘Thou shalt set bounds about the mount.’ Both in the sacred worship of the tabernacle and the temple, the thought of distance was always prominent.”1
Spurgeon goes on to add: “The mass of the people did not even enter the outer court. Into the inner court none but the priests might dare to intrude; while into the innermost place, or the holy of holies, the high priest entered but once in the year.”2 It was as if God felt that man’s sinfulness was so repulsive to Him that He felt it necessary to maintain such a drastic state of separateness.
But praise God that when Jesus came on the scene a radical shift took place and distance gave way to nearness. In fact, the yearly blood sacrifices, which could never take away our sins, gave way to the one time sacrifice of the spotless lamb of God – Jesus. I believe, that with our sins now permanently forgiven, we now have intimate access to God. This nearness can be seen symbolized when Jesus died for we read at His death: “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…” (Matthew 27:51). This curtain, which blocked the entrance to the Most Holy Place, was now gone, signifying that the way into God’s presence was now open to all who call on the name Jesus. And the fact that the curtain was torn from top to bottom clearly indicated that God did it.
Not only that but in (Hebrews 4:16) we see how God tells us to approach Him intimately and with confidence for we read: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” What a beautiful thought that we can now approach God and know that He will be attentive to our praises as well as our needs. And I also believe that this nearness to God is something we should never take for granted. After all, it cost Jesus His life for us to obtain it. What an absolute privilege and blessing to know that Jesus is only a thought and a prayer away.
And when we reach our eternal state just imagine what awaits us and how special Jesus considers us that He would share these incredible blessings with us:
“…To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)
“He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father; and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5)
“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.” (Revelation 3:12)
“He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21)
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:7)
1 Evening Devotional – April 17, 2023 – Devotional by Charles Spurgeon – Charles Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening (bibleportal.com)
2 Evening Devotional – April 17, 2023 – Devotional by Charles Spurgeon – Charles Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening (bibleportal.com)