APPROACHING THE HOLY GOD

APPROACHING THE HOLY GOD

TEXT: Ezekiel 43:13-27

The eternal word of God shows us that there is indeed a great gap between God and fallen humanity.  The bible text above describes in detail the central position of the altar in the inner court. God having returned to the temple in His glory is now set to put out the temple ordinances and practices. Actually, everything about this temple begins and ends with what happens at the altar and what happens to the sacrifices presented thereon. 

The efficacy of such sacrifices will be determined by its acceptance by God. Conversely, the obedience or otherwise of the people determines the fate of their sacrifice before God. To bridge the gap between God and fallen humanity He makes a provision for a go between in the person of priests. Here he shows Ezekiel a glimpse of what happens in the heavenly sanctuary, which He is ready to duplicate on earth at his own time. A priest MUST always stand before God and man for man has lost the right standing to come to God by himself.

Now, note the details of the altar from verses 13-17 (use message version if possible). It is gigantic. Measuring upwards of twenty feet in height. What is the significance of this height? It is the mountain of God upon which he will accept sacrifices (things laid down, forsaken and relinquished) unto him. It creates a picture of ascension in the mind. Man must climb up to the mountain of God. God is high and lifted up. We can't find him right where we are seated doing our own things; engaging in our mundane activities. Rather,  it requires a careful, conscious move of stepping away from our usual; consecrating ourselves in readiness and then approaching this God as the hallowed mighty awesome one He is. 

As new testament believers however,  we must draw parallels from the old testament. When we read Moses or the prophets we must respect what obtains in the past so as to appreciate what obtains now as a result of JESUS' WORK ON THE CROSS. In Jesus we find the fulfilment of all these shadows. The altar is the focal point of the temple's essence. This is where the action is. It's place is to allow man to pay his debts and have a chance of restoring his lost fellowship with God. God is the tangible essence of man's life. (without God in a man's life, man is simply an ordinary beast). 

So what? Jesus is the perfect and complete sacrifice. He is both the bull, the ram and the goat that were to be offered. He was completely sacrificed outside the sanctuary on the hill of Golgotha the place of skull. There he bleed to the very last drop. The sprinkling of His blood has sanctified the eternal heavenly altar ( Hebrews 9: 21-24) God accepted him as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Pride of man, stubbornness and disobedience were relinquished. The man of sorrows bore all once and for all time so that we may be able to approach the holy God. 

Did you see what it takes beloved? You had no chance of coming close to God if not for the reckless love of Jesus. But for what he has done Hebrews 4:16 says 'come boldly into the throne of Grace...' With what do we come though? With sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) and with the sacrifice of our body (Romans 12: 1)  Therefore, do not trivialize what He's done for you. For without Jesus sacrifice there is no possibility of you and I ever approaching the holy God boldly.  Be blessed as you keep faith and step with your saviour and master daily. Amen!