A Place Called Holy

By Jerry D. Ousley

            I made a huge mistake.  It was done out of ignorance, but non-the-less, a big error for sure.  I was in the U.S. Army, being all that I could be, working as a chaplain’s assistant.  Part of my duties included setting up the chapel for various services.  The protestant services weren’t difficult at all.  I had been raised up in church and so those services, though some were a bit more formal than others, were fairly easy setups for me.

            But the Catholic services were different.  I had never been in a Catholic service so I had no idea of the significance of their ceremonies and rituals.  My error was manifested in the simplest of things – the little trays at the entrance doors into the chapel.  I had witnessed people dipping their fingers in them when they entered the chapel, but I had no idea why they did it.  Perhaps their fingers were dirty and they didn’t want to soil the hymnals. 

            The first time I had to set up for a Catholic service by myself, I noticed that the little trays (actually called fonts) were nearly empty.  So, I dutifully got a glass, went to the sink, caught some water and filled them up.  This actually became a common practice for me, that is until my NCOIC (non-commissioned officer in charge) witnessed what I was doing.  Thankfully he was understanding.  He told me that, while he appreciated me keeping them full, that they were supposed to be filled with holy water, not just plain old tap water.  This holy water was located in a special container in a private chamber off to the side of the chapel entrance.  From then on, I did it right.  Sorry my Catholic friends; it wasn’t my intention to disrespect you.  I did it out of my own misunderstanding.

            The actual purpose of those fonts are meant to remind those entering the sanctuary that they were purified in baptism and are to seek forgiveness of any post-baptismal sins.  It is something that good Catholics are supposed to do.  The tabernacle and later temple used by Israel before Christ had a special room that had requirements before one could enter.

            The tabernacle that God instructed Moses to make, and then later on, the temple built by Solomon, both contained a special room called “The Holiest Place” or “The Holy of Holies.”  Here’s what God told Moses to do: “You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy.”  (Exodus 26:31-34).  This wasn’t just a ritual or practice of man, but a place that was occupied by the very presence of God.  Entrance into this place was limited.  The High Priest was the only one allowed to enter and event then he had to be dressed in the right clothes, and be completely clean physically.  Afterall, he was preparing to go in to the presence of the LORD of lords, and the one and only true God!

            For the next few centuries this is how it was done.  No one except the High Priest, or one specifically designated for the duty could enter that room.  But when Jesus came on the scene, it all changed.  He was crucified as the final sacrifice for sin.  His spilled blood became the sacrifice required to once and for all fulfill the price for man’s sin.  After Him, no more killing a perfect lamb each year to atone for man’s shortcomings.  Jesus’ sacrifice was the final, once for all, sacrifice.  God came in human form and paid the price that man could not pay.  God paid it Himself.

            A wonderful thing happened when Jesus died on that cruel, Roman cross: “Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”  (Mark 15:38).  Do you see it?  That heavy curtain that God instructed to be placed at the entrance of the Holy of Holies was ripped by unseen hands from top to bottom.  What was inside – the presence of God – was now revealed and open to anyone who wanted to come to Him.  No more depending on a priest to go to God on our behalf.  Now we could go for ourselves.  Jesus had paid the price and the door was now open!

            The place called holy was now vacated and God’s presence took up residence in the hearts – the seat of our emotions – our very existence – of man.  After Christ’s death and resurrection those of us accepting Christ as our Savior, now become the temple of God.

            Even though all the complicated laws of the Old Testament were required for man to be holy – and, by the way, no man before Jesus ever fulfilled them completely making him the only One truly worthy, were now summed up in simply accepting Jesus’ sacrifice for us. All we must do is to believe that He is the Son of God and that He died and was resurrected for us.  If we truly believe; if we really accept Him to the point that we turn our lives around, then we become the Holy of Holies!

            That’s exciting!  That’s an impossibility made possible!  But you have to accept Him.  We can’t save ourselves but we must do that one simple thing.  When we do, we are changed forever.  Will we still sin?  Of course we will.  Anyone saying any different doesn’t really understand the Bible.  We are going to fail Him.  We don’t have to, but we will, mark my word.  But the beauty of it is that when we do, Jesus forgives because He has paid the price for our sin, once for all – all we have committed and all we will ever commit! If that isn’t holy then I don’t know what is!

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey", "Ordeal", "The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional" and his first novel "The Shoe Tree."  Newer books include "Finality" and "Dividing God's Church." Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge