Some 1450 years before Jesus' birth the Levitical priesthood was established in Israel. Among their duties the priests offered sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people of Israel.

The book of Hebrews tells us that those sacrifices were insufficient, because they "cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience" (Hebrews 9:9).

The annual entrance of the high priest into the "holy of holies", the rear part of the tabernacle (and later temple), was an interesting aspect of the Levitical priesthood. The ark of the covenant – a representation of God's throne – was kept there. The book of Hebrews tells us: "But 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" (verse 7).

In all Israel there was only one person who was allowed to be in the "holy of holies", only one time during the year (on the day of Atonement). What does that show us? "The Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing" (verse ‌8).

For the first 4000 years of human history it wasn't just the Israelites who did not have direct access to our heavenly father's throne. All mankind didn't have access, either.

That changed the instant Jesus died: "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:50-51). The veil was torn from top to bottom, as if God the father reached down from heaven and did it.

When Jesus died, the sacrifices offered in "the first part of the tabernacle" (Hebrews 9:6) were no longer necessary. With Jesus' death "the way into the Holiest of All" was opened. What human beings could not do in the first 4000 years of their existence was now possible. We now have "boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:19). That's why the author of Hebrews exhorts us more than once to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (verse 22).

Do we show our appreciation for this great privilege by making use of it often?

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!