Seize the Moment – Day 518
The Veil that Separated!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, August 17.
Have you ever had a barrier between you and another person?
Exodus 40 describes the tabernacle being assembled “just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” That refrain was repeated often because the people of Israel could not have access to God outside of following the prescribed way; therefore, great detail was recorded and insisted upon in the assembly of and worship at the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:20-21 captures an important detail of the holy of holies (most holy place), the inner chamber for God in the tabernacle: “Then he took the testimony and put it into the ark, and attached the poles to the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up a veil for the screen, and screened off the ark of the testimony, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”
The veil was not only functional; it was symbolic—there was a barrier between man and God. It was commanded in Exodus 26:33b, “the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies.” While God sought to be with His people, access to Him was severely limited and highly formalized so that only the high priest could enter the most holy place once per year to make atonement for sin.
Jesus Christ came to give us direct access to the Father. Listen to Hebrews 10:19, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus.”
This access happened at the time of Jesus’ death. Jesus’ crucifixion removed the veil because Jesus once and for all atoned for sin. As Mark 15:38 records from that day: “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
Seize the moment and seek God’s presence. He has made a way for you through the shed blood of Jesus Christ!