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The Gospel of the Ripped Veil

by Jerry Ousley  
2/27/2010 / Christian Living

Have you ever entered a room you weren't supposed to? Or perhaps you've accidentally walked in on someone who was changing clothes. What an embarrassing moment! During my life I've accidentally walked in on others and I've had others accidentally walk in on me. Listen, I feel sorry for those who have walked in on me because, well, it just isn't a pretty sight!

I've accidentally heard conversations I wasn't supposed to hear. I emphasis the word "accidentally" because folks, in those incidents it really was an accident. I wasn't eavesdropping even though I'm certain that in some of those situations the people I overheard thought I was. But really honestly I wasn't. I promise!

In the book of Exodus, when Moses was instructed by God to make the Tabernacle for worship, it was divided into three areas. The first was the court which was more of an open air surrounding within the skin covered fence around the Tabernacle. Inside the tent were two rooms: The first was a holy place with several articles of furniture, each having its own purpose. Only the priests who conducted the worship on behalf of the people were allowed to go in there.

The second room was called the Holy of Holies, or the Holiest Place. This room contained the Ark of the Covenant covered with a golden lid and looked down upon by two golden angels. There's a whole message in that but the point for today is that only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies and even then he could only go in at certain times. The two rooms of the Tabernacle were divided by a veil, or curtain.

Some have said that this curtain was several inches thick. I'm not sure where they get that information but whether it was or wasn't the facts are the same: No one was allowed to go in there except for the High Priest at the properly given time. Otherwise any who violated this was either put to death by God or by man. That was a pretty good lock if you ask me!

In Matthew 27:51, after Jesus died on the cross, the Bible tells us that the veil in the Temple, hiding the Holy of Holies from the world was ripped from the top to the bottom. Now think of that; if the veil were merely a curtain and not several inches thick, a good strong man could grab it from the bottom and with a hard jerk, rip it from the bottom to the top. But by the curtain being hung, no man could grab it from the top and tear it down. Only the hand of God could have done this. That's miraculous to me.

The point is that for all those centuries, the High Priest had to enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of all the nation of Israel. The people couldn't do it themselves. They had to provide the sacrifices but they could not enter the presence of God on their own.

With the veil now torn apart, anyone who might have walked into the Holy Place could now clearly see the Ark and all the furnishings in the Holy of Holies. It was exposed by the very hand of God.

Hebrews 4:16 tells us, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." That's worth pulling out your Bible and reading for yourself! It links with what God did when Christ died, paying the penalty once and for all for our sin. The veil was torn and it was as if God was personally giving an invitation to all to come into His presence, through the grace and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But remember, the Holy Place stood between the Holy of Holies and the Outer Court. This represents an open invitation to all, but only after going through this Holy Place or coming to God through salvation provided by the Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

After we have come to Him, then we can boldly stand before the throne of God the throne of grace. There, we can find the grace that will help us in our time of need. And it isn't just a promise of help. He has all the answers, and He will give us the best one.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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