With all that is happening lately, one good thing is that many no longer have the excuse that they don’t have time to be in the Word.  With so many things canceled, we should be spending time in the Word and prayer and worship.  I hope you are spending your time wisely, even taking time to rest instead of being driven by the world and everything it offers.

I do want to thank the many “essential” people like doctors and nurses and firefighters and law officers and the power, water, and gas people, and the many, many others I didn’t mention.  You are all doing a fantastic job of keeping us going and safe.  THANK YOU!

I went to the store the other day I noticed something I’ve never seen in a grocery store.  There was a plastic “sneeze guard” set up so people didn’t breathe on them.  At another store there were plastic strips similar to a walk-in freezer.  All designed to protect those who are servicing the public.  While odd, I understand that they must do what they have to in order to remain safe.

However, as I was standing behind the plastic, I heard the voice of God.  He said, “Get behind the veil.”  While I’m sure He wasn’t telling me to get behind the counter, I needed to hear more from Him on the matter.

As I was sitting, just listening to my Father speak, I was reminded of the veil that once…and I said once….kept the priests from entering into the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place.  This was an amazing piece of tapestry that some have measured to be 30 to 60 feet tall, depending on which temple and their interpretations of a cubit.  Solomon’s temple was 30 cubits high but in Herod’s temple the height of the temple was increased to 40 cubits.  The veil was about as thick as a man’s hand.  Some have it as 60 cubits wide.  Wow!  The bible records it took 300 priests to carry it.

When the priest entered behind the veil, it was only for special purposes and times.  And not just anyone could go behind the veil without being struck dead.  If you recall in the Indiana Jones movie, they couldn’t look on the Ark, which was kept behind the veil.  It was like, as long as your eyes were shut, you were ok.  Not so.  However,  I do like the representation of the power of the Ark that was shown.  The veil made sure that no one accidentally walked into the place where the presence of God settled.  The place where the Mercy Seat was.  Isn’t it interesting that God’s presence settled where mercy was given?

This was a holy place reserved for special people at special times.  However, when Jesus cried out His last words. “It is finished!” there was an earthquake and the veil, this huge piece of cloth, was torn in two from top to bottom.  The Most Holy Place that was for so long hidden from the world was now revealed by Jesus Christ.  The wall of separation was now abolished and the way into the Holy of Holies was then and forever opened by the blood of Jesus.  Praise the Lord!  We now have access to God because the veil is gone and the mercy of God is now available to us because of the atoning work of Jesus.  When He said it was finished, He meant it!

As I was listening and meditating on the Word, I was directed to Hebrews 10:19-25.  Look at what it says,

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

My friends, we now have the boldness to enter behind the veil, by a new and living way, Jesus.  His flesh has now given us access.  And Paul also admonishes us not to forsake getting together.  He also tells us to stir up love and good works.  When we go behind the veil, there is a presence of God that cannot be compared to anything else.  We must go beyond just normal church.  We must go into that place to go beyond that place.  In that place we can reach others…and even more as we see the Day approaching.

Friend, GET BEHIND THE VEIL!  Get to a place of worship and sacrifice that gets you beyond your normal worship.  Dig in, go deep, get behind the veil.