Boldly Go

DEVOTION
HEBREWS
BOLDLY GO
Heb 12:18-24
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."   21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."   
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 
NIV


What else can we say except, Praise God! Surely God still is as awesome, holy and powerful as He has also been and that we are so human in His presence. It is clear we cannot deal with the fear in the first part of this without seeing the wonderful love of the second part. Who of us would want to tremble with fear at the thought of being in the presence of God? Those people of old surely were given that image of God which caused fear. It is true that God does not change, and that He is still that same God, but He also has proved that He has another tract, another characteristic, or personality other than a God of wrath. It is also true that His justice must be satisfied and that there is no man, or beast that is capable of coming near to God without escaping that justice, for if any of us get close enough to touch his holy mountain we should be stoned. But because of the love of God He has satisfied His own justice. Jesus paid the price, and now our spirits have been made perfect. Now because of Jesus we can enter into the holy of holies, we can come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. We do not have to tremble in fear like Moses did. We can rejoice alone with the thousands upon thousands of angels. The old covenant has been replaced with a new covenant and fear has been replaced with love. The words men begged for no more of, we can be eager to hear all of them, for they do not bring death, but life, and life everlasting. So why did God treat those men of old with such wrath? Why didn’t He send Jesus sooner? Of course He was speaking directly to them, He was given them real and physical evidence of both His existence and His power. All they needed to know about God was plain to them, and yet they still were disobedient living more for self them for Him. Are we any different? So why did God decide when He would send Jesus? That is a question we cannot answer, but it sure is a blessing we do not live under the old covenant, for we would have to live in fear of God. Jesus is now our mediator of the new covenant and we can let go of fear, although we must always respect and be in reverent fear of God for He was, is and will always be God, the creator of all things made, including us. But He has satisfied His justice and we are safe in His presence, if fact we can boldly go where no man could go before, into the very throne room of God.