While there are many benefits of God creating man, there is only one reason - fellowship. The catalyst of change, the thing that interfered with the plan, was sin. When sin entered the world through the fall of man, we lost our fellowship with God. While this only happened in the first three chapters of the Bible, the rest of the Scripture is nothing more than the story of how God planned, gave, and succeeded at restoring that fellowship.

 

Once God re-established His covenant with mankind through Abraham, he came up with a way to reinstate His presence back into the lives of His people. God’s desire was to dwell with His people, but His holiness and justice could not co-mingle with mankind’s sin and depravity. God accomplished this “togetherness” and separation in one single idea. Heaven and earth could not contain God, so He designed a plan - He chose a people, He gave them a place, and then He designated a house, the Temple.

 

The Temple graphically illustrates the relationship between God and mankind. There were many areas within the Temple, each with its own unique rules and regulations. Although each and every area is of great importance, the most important and overlooked aspect of the Temple would have to be the Holy of Holies. This special interior room was God’s dwelling place in the midst of His people. A thick curtain separated the Holy of Holies from all other parts of the Temple. This curtain, known as the “veil,” was massive. It was four inches thick, thirty feet in width, and sixty feet in length.

 

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us though the curtain, that is, his body ... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:19-22) Only the high priest, God’s chosen mediator with His people, could pass through the veil and enter this sacred dwelling once a year, on the Day of Atonement. Even as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to make some meticulous preparations: He had to wash, put on special clothing, and bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God.

 

Although God was dwelling with his people in the Temple, the situation was less than ideal. God needed to be closer. He needed to get His people back - to ransom us. To complete God’s plan of redemption, there needed to be an ultimate sacrifice. This is where the Son comes in. Jesus was born of a woman, lived a life of freedom from sin, and then died a sacrificial death that paid for the sins of man. When God saw the blood of His Lamb being poured out at Jesus’ crucifixion, He cried, “OK, That’s it! Tear down the veil! Take away the barrier!” When Jesus died, the curtain in the Temple was torn in half, from top to bottom. As the veil was torn, the Holy of Holies was exposed. God’s presence was now accessible to all.

 

The sign no longer read, “No Trespassing.” It now said, “WELCOME HOME!” The unknowable is now known. The unapproachable can grant as audience. Access has been provided to the inaccessible. Shocking as this may have been to the people of that day, it is indeed good news to all men. As Jesus cried out “It is finished!” on the cross, He was indeed proclaiming that God’s redemptive plan was now complete. We can now boldly enter God’s presence, “the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)

 

We must utilize this information so that we can walk in all that God has for us. Understanding our rights and access to the Most High God can grant us more than life; it grants us freedom, forgiveness, blessings, and relationship once again. Please seek after the One that gave all for a relationship and fellowship with you. You will find that it is as special and as valuable as God said it was - it’s priceless.