Drawn Near

<p>In the wake of the coronavirus, retrieving something from my safety deposit box required even more layers of protocol than before. Now I had to make an appointment, call when I arrived to be granted entrance to the bank, show my identification and signature, and then wait to be escorted into the vault by a designated banker. Once inside, the heavy doors locked again until I&rsquo;d found what I needed inside the metal box. Unless I followed the instructions, I wasn&rsquo;t able to enter.</p> <p>In the Old Testament, God had specific protocols for entering part of the tabernacle called the Most Holy Place. Behind a special curtain, one that &ldquo;separate[d] the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place,&rdquo; only the high priest could enter once a year (Exodus 26:33; Hebrews 9:7). Aaron, and the high priests who would come after him, were to bring offerings, bathe, and wear sacred garments before entering (Leviticus 16:3&ndash;4). God&rsquo;s instructions weren&rsquo;t for health or security reasons; they were meant to teach the Israelites about the holiness of God and our need for forgiveness.</p> <p>At the moment of Jesus&rsquo; death, that special curtain was torn, symbolically showing that all people who believe in His sacrifice for their forgiveness of sin can enter God&rsquo;s presence (Matthew 27:51). The tear in the tabernacle curtain is reason for our unending joy&mdash;Jesus has enabled us to draw near to God always!</p>