“Therefore, brethren,
having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus”
(Hebrews 10:19).
For some years, I’ve held a part-time job in
the mornings as the Human Resources guy in a factory. Then, in the
afternoons, evenings and weekends, it’s been, “Up-up and away, it’s
Super Pastor!” Well, actually, it’s just me, doing what I believe
God has called me to do. He’s the One who is Super – in every way.
One of my functions in the morning has been to
record, report and monitor industrial accidents. Just a month or
two ago, we had one; the first in a long time. Nobody wants
accidents, but this one was interesting because it was an
opportunity to try out the new OSHA reporting form. It turned out
to be a little less complex than the “old” form, which was called
the “Employer’s Report.” It was not a problem! I completed it and
faxed it immediately to the Workers’ Compensation insurance
company. We made the deadline and all was well… But was it?
Some time later, a lady contacted me from the
local Workers Comp office: “Where are the
forms,” she demanded, continuing, “I’m
receiving doctor’s reports and there are no forms!’ I
confidently informed her that they had been faxed to her company;
and then re-faxed them, directly to her location. A few days later
she contacted me again: “No, no, those
aren’t the forms,” she insisted.
I patiently (I believe I was patient) told her
about the new OSHA forms, stating that the previous “Employer’s
Report” was now obsolete – we’re not supposed to use it anymore.
The conversation went downhill from there, because she had orders
from her company to use only the “old” form, and I was trying to be
“modern” and use the new. It was a classic “oil and water” problem,
for she and I just did not “mix.”
And she was destined to win this minor
struggle, because she represented a huge company that insured us,
whereas I was just a little guy in a factory. I filled out the
“old” Employer’s Report form and faxed it to her location.
Sometimes it just doesn’t matter how “right”
you may think you are. In certain situations, conforming to
accepted behavior is the only door that is open. If your child is
hungry, it’s considered acceptable to get a job and earn the money
to feed that child. To become a burglar who steals money for the
same purpose is not acceptable, no matter how good you may think
your motives are.
Our Scripture for today (“Therefore,
brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus”
- Hebrews 10:19), answers our greatest need in life – God is holy,
and compared to Him, we are not. How can we become “right” before
Him?
The phrase “the
Holiest” is interesting, because the author of the Book of
Hebrews is speaking about the “Holy of Holies” in the Old Testament,
which only the high priest of Israel could enter - once a year: “Into
the second part (The Holy of Holies)
the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he
offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance”
(Hebrews 9:7). Only the high priest was allowed into the place of
God, and even for him it was just once a year. People like you and
me were simply – excluded!
But God meant all this to point to Someone yet
future who was the Reality, whereas that which happened previously
was only a symbol: “Christ came as High
Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect
tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation…”
(Hebrews 9:11). We need more than buildings and religious practices
– We need the Lord.
In submitting the recent Workers’ Compensation
information, I used what I felt was the right form, but it was the
wrong form, because those in authority thought differently than I
did. You may think that you have found a way to please God, other
than the blood of Jesus Christ. Consider this: HIS Way is all that
matters on the Day of Judgment.
Many have thought that certain religious
actions would be enough, especially coupled with the living of a
“good” life. There are always those who conclude that we must join
some religious organization, or be baptized in a certain way, or
tithe a certain amount of money, or not be arrested, and never cheat
on taxes… and the list goes on. Yes, we ARE to live good lives, but
the fact remains that we can only enter the “Holiest
by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). There is no other
way.
Isaiah the Prophet revealed God’s perspective
on the “righteousness” we think we have through “good works” – He
said, “All our righteousness is as filthy
rags” (Isaiah 64:6).
Someday, when we see God, He may well inquire
about our standing before Him. If we say to Him, “I gave money to
the poor,” or “I went to church every week,” it may be commendable,
but it’s not the “Right Form” to show Him. You and I have the
equivalent of an “Arrest Record” in His sight: “ALL
have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans
3:23). Look at your Arrest Record carefully, for you have been
sentenced to death: “The wages of sin is
death” (Romans 6:23a).
But trust in Christ and He stamps across your
record, “Paid in Full,” written in
His own blood. We are all guilty before Him, but we are forgiven
when we trust in Him. The “Right Form”
is written in His blood. The verse in Romans continues: “but
the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
(Romans 6:23b). Through Him, through His death, you are set free “to
enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19).
Would you like to see God? Wouldn’t you like
to hear Him say, “Well done, good and
faithful servant… Enter into the joy
of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21)??? Then trust in Him now. He
will issue the Right Form – a full Pardon, written in the blood of
Jesus Christ.
Let’s pray together: Lord Jesus, I trust in
You. Please write “Paid in Full”
on me; on my sins. Thank You for shedding Your blood for me. I am
Yours. In Jesus Name. Amen.
