Hebrews 10:19-25 – “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have  a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  NASU

I am reminded of Augustine’s declaration, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”  What a declaration!  Truly God has made us for Himself.  Also, I think of the Catechism that asks the question:  “What is the chief end of man? “ The Answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  I believe that the twenty-four elders of Revelation 4:11 agree with that declaration. 

The work of God in redemption is to undo the effects of the revolt and rebellion of Adam and Eve the Garden.  His plan and desire are to bring us back into right relationship with Him and open the door for us to live in His presence forever!  If we think of the Tabernacle and Temple, we are reminded of the veils of separation that existed.  I am reminded of the passage in Matthew 27 at the time of Jesus’ death on the Cross.  In verse 51 we read, “And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…” 

What is the significance of that?  Simply that through the Blood of Jesus the veil of separation was removed and now we have access to the presence of God to fully and wholly enjoy Him.  That was the last veil that was removed and opened the way for every worshipper to come into experience the presence of God in a new, living, and powerful way. 

I agree with A.W. Tozer when he said, “The world is perishing for a lack of the knowledge of God and the church is famishing for want of his presence.”   I have minister friends who reflect on gatherings from time to time and say, “God showed up.”  I reject that idea, not that God’s presence was not realized but that God just suddenly ‘showed up.’  I contend that He was there all the time!  Where is he not?  The problem is not that God is not present but that we are not tuned in to His presence.  We have a veil that needs to be removed so we can behold Him and in beholding Him we are transformed by that which we are beholding.  The Veil Must Go!

I refer you to 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  The gates of our eyes, ears, and mouths need to be opened to His presence.  Mark told us to “Take heed what we hear…”  Another says, “Be careful you hear.” 

If there is anything separating us from God that veil needs to be removed.  God is always present, but we are not always attuned to Him. God is speaking but we are not always hearing.  God is always the same, yesterday, today, and forever but we are sometimes distant from Him.  We allow our minds to become filled with the clutter of this life and the affairs of humanity to the point that we do not recognize Him and embrace His presence.

Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 6 is important for us to comprehend and embrace as present realities or possibilities.  If we want the Kingdom of God to come, we must realize that we cannot have His kingdom without His presence.  Psalm 16:11 tells us that in the presence of God there is fullness of Joy.  We are told in Psalm 100:4 that we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. 

Our text verse urges us to allow the confidence of His ownership to flood our hearts and instill in us both confidence and courage to enter His presence.  If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever then why can’t we have His presence now?  If God performed miracles in the past why not now?  If God delivered in the past, why not now?  If God invited His children to enter His gates and courts in the past, why not now? 

It is time to remove the veil from our hearts and allow Him to become Lord of All in our lives!   God bless you as you embark on this journey into His presence in a new and powerful way!  

Have a great day, God bless!