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Into Heaven Itself

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Into Heaven Itself

9 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).

The flaming sword of the cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden turned every way, we read in that black chapter, the third of Genesis. The way to the tree of life was closed. Adam and Eve had sinned themselves out of communion with God, and we with them. Therefore God drove out the man and placed cherubim, angels guarding God’s righteousness, with a flaming sword. And, lo, that sword turned every way. There was no opening to return to God’s favor and communion, no access to the tree of life, no hope to live forever, unless first that sword of justice was satisfied.

Is this not the experimental lesson which each truly discovered soul learns? Have you been led in this way? Has the Holy Spirit convinced you of sin? The holy sword of justice turns every way and threatens to slay us, the door to paradise is closed, the gate to heaven is locked, communion with God is cut off—and it is all our own fault. Then we are oppressed with our burden of guilt; then fear besets us round about and within, for we cannot meet our Maker. Oh, then we come to grieve that we lie outside of God; we are perishing, lost, and undone. Then we learn we are exiles in this desert waste, in which no waters be. How can God obtain His honor? How can His righteous demands be satisfied? How can His favor be shown to our guilty soul?

Hearken, O soul; it has pleased God to devise a way already in the stillness of eternity, according to His good pleasure. He has promised that way. He has made that way. He has revealed that way. It is the new and living Way; Christ Jesus is the Way for those helpless and ruined sinners who have no way and do not know the Way. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

The apostle refers to the tabernacle of old Israel, with the court, the holy place, and the most holy place. This sanctuary he calls “the holy places made with hands.” On the Day of Atonement the high priest would enter with the blood of the offering, to make reconciliation for the people. Aaron, and later his sons, would appear before God’s ark within the curtains and sprinkle upon the ark the blood of atonement for the sins of Israel.

These ceremonies were “the figures of the true.” They foreshadowed the perfect sacrifice of the great High Priest of our profession, as Paul called Christ. The types and figures were fulfilled in and by the Mediator. He shed His own blood of the New Testament with a far better sacrifice, and He entered not into the holy places made with hands. “By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” By the shedding of His precious blood there was remission of sins, because He offered up Himself without spot to God. He obtained an eternal redemption for His guilty, but chosen, Zion, and He entered in once into the holy place, into heaven itself, that greater and more perfect tabernacle. And that flaming sword of justice? That sword had awakened against the Lord’s Shepherd, against the Man that was God’s Fellow. That Shepherd had been smitten, testified the prophet Zechariah. He was cut off out of the land of the living, for willingly and voluntarily He appeared once in the end of the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. The cherubim upon the mercy seat could not fathom the way of blood, the way of reconciliation, but how did the heavens resound with the praises of the angels and the saints above when Christ entered into heaven itself!

Were not the heavens closed to Him? Were those gates not shut? No, not anymore, because on Golgotha He had suffered that shame and borne that penalty. Cast out of Jerusalem, He suffered without the gate; He was lifted up on the accursed pole, cast out from the earth—but the heavens had remained closed; yes, even the sun withdrew its shining. Hear how the Surety lamented, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Those closed gates He endured and suffered unto the end, for He loved His own unto the end and desired to adorn His Father’s perfections unto the end. But now that the price had been paid, the ransom given, the sacrifice accepted, for justice had been satisfied—lo, mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Christ rose from the dead and overcame hell, death, sin, and Satan. Christ ascended into heaven, for the gates were opened unto Him. “God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.” Then it was fulfilled:

What King of all glory is this that ye sing?

The Lord, strong and mighty, the conquering King.

Ye gates, lift your heads, and His summons obey, Ye doors everlasting, wide open the way.

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” See, that last part is now the concern of a remnant here below; sin and stain are upon them, and the handwriting of sin is against them. So often they fear that all is wrong, the way is closed, and that the Lord will never show His favor to their soul. With former dealings, with tokens of love, with encouragements, with instructions and much more, they come to find out that their debt is not paid, their guilt not atoned. Such people fear that they must appear in the presence of God but will then hear, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Yet they bow and accept the punishment of their iniquity, to be cast out forever and forever.

Is there no comfort from the ascension of Christ for such guilty sighers? Is there no profit for that concerned and troubled people? for those broken reeds and smoking flaxes? It is true, they must be led into the Surety-sufferings of Christ, they must be experimentally brought to lose all that they may win Christ, they need the application of blood to their soul, they need to increase in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Lord ascended up on high, however, He took His entire church with Him in His heart. Not a hoof remained behind. Christ entered to appear in the presence of God for us, wrote the apostle, and that includes all who fear God’s holy Name. That includes all in whose hearts the love of God has been shed abroad by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto them. They have received a hope which maketh not ashamed. They have received faith that worketh by love and unites unto that Mediator. For all of them has Christ appeared in the presence of God.

In the standing of life much can shake, and much will be tossed up and down as the stormwinds blow. Yet not one of the Lord’s people shall perish, since they are in the hands of that ascended Mediator, and none can ever pluck them out. It is true, they must be exercised, and the Lord’s Spirit will see to that. They will be sorely assaulted by their enemies, but also for them the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek has appeared in the presence of God. He ever intercedes for them that their faith shall not fail. He is their Advocate when they sin. He blesses with blessings of the covenant. He keeps them by His almighty power.

In their experience, that remnant often has a closed heaven, and that is on account of their sins and corruptions. All those remaining iniquities make separation time and again. But—blessed be God and blessed be this ascended Savior, blessed be the Spirit of this Christ—the heavens are not always closed unto them. When the Spirit of grace and of supplications is poured out and works in them, whether by groanings or by praising, they find access through that new and living Way. Then they receive opening so their petitions enter into the ears of the Lord God of Sabaoth. Yes, the graces and blessings flow from heaven; the Lord speaks and whispers and promises and embraces. One smile from heaven is a token that the Savior has appeared in the presence of God even for me. Oh, who can ever fathom such a wonder! Communion here in the beginning with God, in whatever measure the Lord is pleased to grant it, is a pledge of this ascended Lord that He is praying, “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.” What a wonder, what a surprising wonder, shall that be, O people that are so often outside here in the wilderness! The Savior is waiting for you in heaven, He is drawing you to Himself. And then you shall sing:

The glorious gates of righteousness Throw open unto me, And I will enter them with praise, O Lord, my God, to Thee.

— Rev. A. H. Verhoef
(St. Catharines, ON)

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van maandag 1 mei 2006

The Banner of Truth | 24 Pagina's

Into Heaven Itself

Bekijk de hele uitgave van maandag 1 mei 2006

The Banner of Truth | 24 Pagina's