Holy of Holies

God instructed the nation of Israel to build a tabernacle which was split into two pieces... the "Holy Place" and the "Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies)." These two parts were separated by a thick veil. God's presence resided between the cherubim on the ark of the covenant which was located in the Holy of Holies and only the High Priest was allowed to enter that area and only once per year.

What Jesus did through his coming and subsequent death was to open the door to the Holy of Holies to each of us... in fact, when He died, the veil was torn in two (from top to bottom). We have access to God and through the work of the Holy Spirit in each of us, God lives inside of us. I think we often take this for granted as a "nice" thing. The Bible says that God doesn't change - he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What significance does that have? God was so Holy that no one could be in His presence without His permission or they would die. God sent plagues on Egypt to let the Israelites go. God parted the red sea. God came in fire, smoke, and earthquake on Mount Sinai. God flooded the earth, but saved humankind through Noah. God is a God of wonders, power, and awe! This is the God we serve and worship; this is the God that is still alive and working; this is the God that lives in each of us through the Holy Spirit. God deserves to be honored, worshipped, and yes, even feared.

"Take me in to the Holy of Holies; take me in by the blood of the Lamb. Take me in to the Holy of Holies; take the coal, cleanse my lips, here I am!"