Christian Living

INTO HIS PRESENCE

by paul hoffmaster
03/03/19
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Approximately three months after Moses starting leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, he encountered God in a manner unparalleled in history.  It is apparent that Moses and God had an ongoing verbal exchange.  On this one occasion, God spoke to Moses from Mt. Sinai with instructions to the children of Israel.  God told Moses that if the people would keep His covenant they would be a “special treasure” unto Him.  They would be “a kingdom of Priests and an holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5, 6)  Moses then told the people what God said, and they all responded that they would obey God’s Word.  God shocks Moses by saying that He would descend upon Mt. Sinai and speak to him in front of the people.  In that way, the people would see the favor Moses had with God and, as a result, would always believe his authority. (Exodus 19:9)  The rules were that no one could come up the mountain or even touch any aspect of the mountain.  If they did, they would die. (Exodus 19:12)  They had three days to prepare themselves, which included washing their clothes.  The day came and “thunder and lightning” rocked the mountain as a thick cloud encompassed the area.  Suddenly, the “voice of the trumpet” sounded.  The people were summoned to witness the spectacle.  God descended upon the mountain that was spewing fire as from a furnace.  Mt. Sinai shook violently.  The “trumpet” sounded long and became louder and louder. (Exodus 19:18, 19)  Moses was then summoned to ascend the mountain to meet God!  Moses was given commandments to give to the people.  When he left the presence of God to share what God had given him, the people stood off in fear and proclaimed to Moses that they would obey everything God said, but they did not want to have God speak to them for they felt they would die! (Exodus 20: 18, 19)

Travel with me some 1500 years later.  Inside the Jewish Temple was the Holy of Holies.  It was here that the High Priest (a type of Moses) would once a year enter the Holies with fear and trembling as he offered the blood sacrifice for forgiveness. (Day of Atonement)  The people would stand outside seeing the incense lifting through the roof of the Holies as the petitioning for the forgiveness of their signs was offered.  One day, on another “mountain” called Mt. Calvary (Golgatha,) Jesus hanging from a cross and expelling His last earthly breath would say, “Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)  Darkness had covered the whole land for three hours (Mark 15:33) and when Jesus released His spirit, there was an earthquake and the splitting of rocks.  The quake was so strong that stones were rolled away from graves, and many people who were entombed came out and walked the streets of Jerusalem. (Matthew 27:53)  But what shook Jerusalem the most was what happened about a mile away in the most holy place in Israel, the Temple.  The Veil which hid the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom. (Mark 15:38)  From that day on, every Believer would have access to God!  No more fire, thunder, lighting, heat, or smoke would separate God’s children from Him.  Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, the door to the Throne Room of God was opened and God became accessible!  There is one catch; and that is if we want to approach God it is only through Jesus Christ.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, the once unapproachable God of Mt. Sinai will welcome us into His presence.  The Veil has been rent and the gates have been thrown open.  Hallelujah, what a God we serve!!