As Israel was escaping from Egypt, and returning to Canaan, God gave instructions for building the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was intended to be a connection between Israel and God. I was also intended to be a picture of that connection.
There were areas, and artifacts, that were used to cleanse Israel from wrongs they committed. And there was one place that the presence of God resided. No one could enter that area, because each person's sin cut him off from God's presence. God was with his people, but sin prevented a close relationship.
Once a year, the high priest would enter that special place, after intense preparation, to offer a sacrifice of a perfect lamb -- one without blemish. The sins of Israel, committed unknowingly, would be covered by the blood of that lamb.
I noted earlier that the Tabernacle was a picture of the connection between God and people. And it has become a picture of God's solution for sin, and the reconciliation of people to God.
We could not enter God's presence because of our sin. But Jesus, the only one without sin, entered the Most Host Place for us, as our high priest. And he entered the Most Holy Place, as the unblemished lamb, for sacrifice.
The high priest brought the perfect sacrifice into God's presence; and the blood of the sacrifice covered the sins of all people. When the sins of people have been cleansed, they now have permission to go directly to God. There is no sin blocking them anymore.
It is written in the Gospels, that when Jesus died, immediately, the very thick, strong curtain, intended to block people from the Most Holy Place, was torn in two. There was nothing to block normal, every day people from moving into God's presence. Each person has the opportunity to stand next to God's throne, to hear God's voice, and to see his face.
Jesus mad provision for this. We do not have this right, or opportunity, until Jesus' provision becomes ours. That's why the Bible talks about faith. God wants everyone to have this close, and intimate, access. And Jesus' death gives us the means to open the door, and use the opportunity. But faith is the open hands to take the means as our possession. And taker the open relationship as our possession. We can say to God, "You have made this opportunity, this gift, available. I want to take what you are giving."
God is still concerned about sin, and about how we live our lives. But because of Jesus, our high priest, and the torn curtain, a whole, new way of dealing with right living becomes possible, and available to those who respond in faith.
