“For there will be a day when watchmen
On the hills of Ephraim call out,
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
To the Lord our God.’” –Jeremiah 31:6 (NASB)
I only recently discovered this scripture. When I read it it jumped out and planted itself in my heart. God has been dealing with me lately about dwelling in Him, about finding that place in His presence, that “secret place”, that resides above all the cares and turmoil of this world. It’s a place filled with peace, strength, authority, and acceptance. It’s the atmosphere of Heaven, the tangible glory of God’s presence, and it’s available to believers now. We don’t have to wait for the “sweet by and by” or be in a good church service to experience this blessing. We are now, in this present moment, authorized and encouraged to draw near to God, to come with confidence before His throne (Heb. 4:16) and experience the splendor of His presence.
For it is in His presence that we are changed. It says in I John 3:2-3, “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” When we experience that glory of His presence we are transformed into His image from faith to faith and glory to glory. Have you every just felt the presence of God and been overwhelmed by His love and peace? I believe He wants us to daily walk with Him in these moments on purpose.
The writer of Hebrews draws a comparison of the earthly tabernacle to the spiritual tabernacle that it was patterned after. In this comparison, he shows how Jesus is the true High Priest that offered up once and for all the only acceptable sacrifice ever needed for sin. How He entered the Holy of Holies with his blood and made and offering to God on our behalf.
Hebrews 10:19,22a says, “Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place, by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…” God made the way! We weren’t created to grovel and live like worms on the earth in separation from our Creator. He wants us to dwell with Him, to commune with Him, to walk with Him….daily. We can come into His presence with “confidence” and “full assurance of faith” because of what Jesus did for us. It was His plan all along!
We were made to draw close to our Lord, walk with Him and talk with Him, to hear His voice, receive counsel, wisdom, healing, peace, joy…all of it, to bask in His love like Adam in the Garden before the fall. We don’t do it because we don’t think we are worthy and the cares of this life bog us down. But there is a way to lay aside those cares and the guilty conscience of sin and accept the power that is in that precious Blood! A way to walk hand in hand with the Living God, the source of Life and Light. The One who gives purpose and meaning; Who gives help for the present and hope for the future; Who redeems and gives purpose and meaning to life. So RISE UP and step on in, reach up and take His hand. He’s got a seat waiting for you in the heavenly places, seated with Christ (Eph. 2:6).
Be blessed!
(originally published 3/9/13)