Come!

Come!

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  Hebrews 10:19 KJV 

There are a lot of words that speak in today's extract, but let us consider a few:

1. Brethren - today's extract refers to brethren, people with a common denominator. It does not refer to them by their degrees, connection, earthly family lineage, blood group or influence. It does not emphasize cultural or ethnic colourations, as politicians around the world seek for and emphasize the things that divide citizens, so that they can keep a hold of their power and influence, or the denominational leanings that some so called 'men' of God seek to emphasize so that they can keep a hold of the members who are loyal to them.

In all of the letters that Paul or any of the apostles wrote, there was nowhere denomination or pastoral authority was emphasized over and above the fact that all who believe in Christ are brothers and sisters, now members of the same family. It does not matter what my present physical location is. As soon as I turn to the Lord, I become part of the family of God. God has no issue with the colour of my skin, or the language of my tongue, but on the circumcision of my heart, the place where He can meet with me, turn my life around and make me a weapon of offence and defence in the world He has placed me. 

We have always emphasized that Jesus is coming back soon. We do not know the time or the day, but if there is anything He has made very clear, it is this: He is not returning for any denomination, race or ethnic group, but for people described like this: "... the church..... not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless". It is not a church, which makes it look like there could be options, but the church, the one and only true version which He died for and is coming back for. 

For all who are true brethren, we are given the same access and privilege as people belonging to the same family. No one is left out. We are called into the family of God, as joint heirs of the firstborn, who is Jesus Himself. So, are you part of THE church or content with just being a member of ANY church? 

2. Boldness- today's extract talks about boldness, by which those who are members of the church of Jesus' version, not the ones laid down by men for their own purposes, come into the place and blessings that this family lineage has provided. Don't forget, what makes me bold to come in has to be about my spiritual family background, not my earthly degrees, influence or connections. The same access that the poor widow who gave her mite had was the same access that the woman with the issue of blood had, as well as the Samaritan woman at the well, or the Syro - Phoenician woman whose son was raised from the dead or the centurion whose servant was also raised from the dead.

If you dug further into the stories of the people mentioned above, you will note that all these people came from different family, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, but Jesus didn't bother with any of these things. They all got what they needed from Jesus, and the same principle applies today. We need to stop looking at Jesus from the narrow prisms of our own prejudices but to see men as He sees them: people in need of a Saviour. If I keep that as my focus, it will help me reach the world with the same love I have received, and be able to bring men to that same love. After all, isn't that not the whole essence of the Great Commission?

This boldness leaves no room for fear or trepidation, but it is courage that Jesus has accepted me as I am. There is no room for trembling out of fear, but there is an awe that inspires me to come to Jesus with a heart that knows the value of what it has received and is grateful for every mercy. This is the balance: God is a God of justice and mercy at the same time. He tells us what He needs from us and will not compromise His standards. He then supplies grace in abundance, so we can come in and live in line with His standard. So I come in, not relying on anything else but the grace already provided. So, what is the foundation of my boldness: my bank balance or God's bank of grace and mercy? 

3. Blood - this is the key to the access God provides. There are deep mysteries that only God can reveal, and the only way to get the revelation is by the blood. The holiest of holiest was for only the high priest and it was only open to Him once a year and subject to very strict conditions. The High priest died if he broke any of the laid down conditions for access. If that was the standard under the dispensation of the law, what then has changed under the dispensation of grace?

Same God, the same rules about blood being the key to covering sin so that God didn't destroy his people. So what's so special about this blood? The blood of bulls and goats only covered sin; could not take them away or forgive them. Animals' blood was offered by an imperfect priest, who could make mistakes and be killed. God kept this arrangement in place until such time as the perfect person could offer the perfect sacrifice under perfect conditions that would bring about the perfection that God intended right from the beginning of time. 

The blood of Jesus was offered by the perfect priest, once and for all time, and it took away the human limitations, time restrictions and restricted impact of the blood of animals. But please note: it did not take away God's righteous requirements. The blood broke down the dividing wall of partition, giving us access into the holiest place, where the Holy God dwells. If the blood gives me access, does this mean the standard has been lowered? God forbid. He asks me to come in to where He is, take of his mercy and learn to live right. He does not force me to come in, but if I dare come in, I had better learn to live in line with the dictates of the blood. 

The blood has been shed once and for all, and will not be shed again. It is by the blood that we enter into this new family relationship. It is by the blood that black, white, red, brown or yellow all have access into the family of God. Now, we all can come in by that cleansing blood, and take of the precious treasures kept in God's presence.

In light of the above, guess the only question now is: Who am I? Do these three things relate to me or am I still trying to sort out my family history and direction? I must note that I have not being promised forever down here, so I don't have forever to sort this out. While I have time, I must make up my mind and come in. I come as I am, join myself to the family of God. I come as part of the brethren, with all the boldness that a family relationship with Jesus has birthed, and I come by the blood, shed for me on the cross. I come. That is all I need to do. His time of favour is here.