This week’s devotions are based on Sunday’s Message: I Love my church…love in community (WATCH HERE).
“Access denied.”
We all know what it is like to forget a password and realize the account we wanted to access is blocked because we didn’t have the right password. Maybe even we’ve entered enough bad passwords that the website says, “Your account has been locked for 24 hours.”
We have passed store doors that say “Employees Only.” We have approached office buildings that have access by security card only.
In many of these situations, we may have a curiosity of what is behind the door that is inaccessible, but really don’t care. However, if there is a situation where you need to gain access to somewhere for your benefit or the benefit of someone you love, you may experience extreme stress or frustration.
Do you have access to God?
Ever thought about that?
As the saying goes, ‘There’s no atheists in foxholes.” A person who didn’t care to have access to God in a moment of dire straights WANTS access and hopes they have access, but do they? Do we?
In the Old Testament construction of the tabernacle and then the temple there was an inner chamber known as the Most Holy Place. Inside was the Ark of the Covenant and this room would only be entered one day a year during the festival of the Day of Atonement. Only after a blood sacrifice could the High Priest enter through a thick curtain and approach the presence of the Holy God.
Anyone else who tried…died.
Sinners can’t approach a holy God on their own.
They may try…good works, payments, comparisons, etc., but every time: “Access denied.”
Why try so hard to have access to a Holy God? Because inside each of us is the desire to be right with God. Some may struggle with who that God is or create their own God, but the fact remains we are spiritual beings with a soul that is from God and desires a connection to God.
By ourselves, we cannot gain access.
Which is why we all need Jesus. He was the only one whose blood was shed to remove the barrier of sin and give access to a Holy God by giving us his holiness. The writer to the Hebrews put it this way:
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
We can have confidence that the password to God is JESUS! The password never needs to change or be changed. We can type our name in for the “login” and type “JESUS” as the password and we have access to God. Our sins have been washed away and we have full confidence to stand before God as forgiven, children of God.
Apply: What does it mean to you to truly have access to God through Jesus?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me access to you through the work of your Son, Jesus. AMEN.