Heb.4:16 – Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
This promise is way bigger than most people get at first glance or even with a hard look when bad things coming knocking at your door. This is an invitation, we are being invited by God into a place of communion with Him. This is not just a special pass to come to Him when we need help, this is total access. It is in living in His presence that we find real help all of the time. This is what Pentecost was all about, the blood of Jesus gave us access to God, not only His power and ability to fix things, it is access into the very presence as a new way to live our lives, or as Paul said, “the new and living way”. It is in living in His presence that we discover how powerful and good He is and how all that He is is available to us, especially when we have trouble in our world. Here is how Andrew Murray describes this verse.
“Let us therefore, with such an High Priest, draw near with boldness to the throne of grace. The word, draw near, is that used of the priests in the Old Testament. It is this one truth the Epistle seeks to enforce, that we can actually, in spiritual reality, draw near to God, and live in that nearness, in living fellowship with Him, all the day. The work of Christ, as our High Priest, is so perfect, and His power in heaven so divine, that He not only gives us the right and liberty to draw nigh, but by His priestly action He does in very deed and truth, so take possession of our inmost being and inward life, and draw and bring us nigh, that our life can be lived in God’s presence.”
Did you pay close attention to what Murray said, he said that the Lord takes “possession of our inmost being…so that our life can be lived in God’s presence”. This is the most radical thing I know, Christ in my innermost being and me swallowed up in God. I love the sound of that, swallowed up in God. That’s what I want my story to be, something happened to Frank and he was just swallowed up by the Lord.
I think of the ticket purchases people make, everything from season tickets to sports games to productions at theaters, to concerts, to cruises and exotic vacations all to gain a measure of pleasure. Additionally most, except the very rich or foolish spend time seeking the best “deal” thereby getting the most for their bucks. Honestly, who hasn’t had buyers remorse after being disappointed by the “bang for the buck”? Having tried some of the above, I agree with Andrew, allowing Jesus to take possession of our innermost being, the core of our life and to BRING us near and live in His presence! I wish I could say I live this way all the time, but now that I’ve had some time there, everything else is fading away.