Hi Bob:
>>>>Faith is an invisible force. You have to experience faith to know what it is. It is a gift from God. To know that Jesus Christ is alive sitting at the right hand of God nearly 2,000 years after He walked the earth as a man. Death could not hold Him, He is alive forever.<<<
This is really meant for Gregory D. John but I wanted to post it to you to let you know how much I always approve of your posts.
In the OT there is never mention of Aaron or any high priest ever sitting down in the presence of God. There was not any item of furniture in the inner holy of holies that the high priest could sit on. In many synagogues to this day, whole congregations still stand as custom. Even in some eastern orthodox churches as a matter of custom, to this day never sit. We have all seen christian churches in Russia on TV where the congregations are standing.
In fact I would assume that the penalty for sitting in God's presence in the OT would have been death. Moses, on the mount was instructed to take his shoes off because he was on holy ground, and God forbid if he would have sat down.
He could have fallen down and buried his face in his arms for fear of losing his life in God's presence , he could have passed out, but in the OT God forbid if anyone casually sat down in God's presence.
But, now, what image do we have of our high priest, Jesus Christ. Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Father. His redemptive plan is complete. Whereas Aaron always had another sin sacrifice to make and could never afford the luxury of sitting down in God's presence, Christ's work is complete. In that sense he is at rest, sitting at the right hand of the Father.
And, sir , may I suggest to you that we as believers, and as a holy nation, and as a royal priesthood do have certain responsibilities when we enter the area of the holy of holies, for we are still in the flesh as you have stated, and we still war against the flesh , and we still sin, but may I suggest that we also make time to sit in God's presence, just as Christ is sitting in God's presence.
This, argument is also one of the strongest arguments I can muster on regular church attendance. In God's house, you can take the time to sit in His presence, without fear of punishment. But let me suggest we can sit in God's presence when we pray or meditate or read His word, or sing His praises.
God has opened this area up to me and I can see for the first time in my life what a joy and a peace and an honor and a privilege, and a learning experience, and a comfort, and a thrill, and a freedom, and a high calling it is to SIT in the presence of God.
May you have a blessed day, and please take time along with me to sit in God's presence today. All by Christ made possible. Gregor |
