Approaching God

https://odb.org/MY/2022/01/08/drawn-near

Today’s post concerns the protocols established in Leviticus for the Israelites to enter the Most Holy Place (also called the Holy of Holies) to meet God at the Tent of Meeting during the 40 year period when they were in the wilderness after departing from Egypt. This was after Aaron’s two sons died after doing so and God told Moses that Aaron will suffer the same fate unless he observes the protocols. At that time the tangible presence of God was present at the Most Holy Place. Even at Mount Sinai, the LORD gave instructions to Moses on how to approach Him lest he also dies.

Consequently, the same protocols were implemented when the Temple was built and only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies with a specific offering once a year to offer the sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of the people of Israel. During those times, a rope was tied to the High Priest in case he didn’t make it in front of God. The reason why a human could not stand in the presence of God then was that humankind was sinful due to the sin of Adam but the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago changed the status of humanity when Jesus as the Lamb of God took upon Himself the sins of mankind and became the ultimate sacrifice to atone our sins once and for all. Now, you and I could approach God if we have accepted Jesus in our lives as our Lord and Saviour. This is because we are seen as sinless before God due to Jesus Christ in our lives.

However, as much as the protocols of the Old Testament are no longer relevant today in the era of the Church, there must still be reverence and respect in approaching God. We could speak to God, Jesus and Holy Spirit like a friend and yet they are still the same God of Genesis and Leviticus. In this post Jesus era, the reverence and fear of God I believe extends beyond just approaching Him once a year like during the days of the Temple, but continually as to how we live our lives and interact with others. It’s now all encompassing since God lives in us nowadays. Our lives are to be sanctified daily and our thoughts and actions are to be in line with His thoughts and actions. It’s a daily thing as we are now a living sacrifice unto Him, in Christ where the glorious riches of our inheritance are now accessible by us. The consequence of non compliance may no longer be death but as it is now all encompassing, we will miss out on the infinite blessings and empowerment of the heavenly realm that our inheritance in Christ as a child of God affords us. The letter of Leviticus protocols may no longer be relevant but the spirit of those protocols lives on in our redeemed and sanctified lives as a living sacrifice in Christ unto God. The curtain was torn into two and we can now enter in, but as we enter we now carry the responsibility and accountability of the High Priests of old as a royal priesthood and a holy nation. All praise and glory be unto God!