Imagine how valuable freedom is for someone who was slave? Imagine what a treasure family is to someone who grew up in foster care? Imagine how precious life is to someone who was healed from a terminal illness? Imagine the appreciation someone has for salvation after growing up in a godless home? Imagine how grateful someone is for abundance when they once lived in poverty? I imagine that these people don’t take what they now have for granted. In fact, most of these people are usually very generous, humble, and live with an indebted spirit.
On that same note, imagine how thankful the first century Christians were for the New Covenant, especially those who lived under the Old Covenant. The writer of Hebrews brings this to the attention of his readers in Hebrews 12:18-24. He reminds them of what life like before and what life is like now. Under the Old Covenant, the people of God could never know God personally… He was always at a distance. He says that the people of the Old Testament were afraid of God. Under the Old Covenant, God was far away.
But at the cross, everything changed. The divider that once stood in place keeping the people of God from entering the presence of God had been torn down. A New Covenant had been put in place. They were INVITED into the VERY presence of God. In fact, God wanted them to come… to get to know Him, hear Him speak, and worship Him. The writer of Hebrews says that this is the place of the city of the living God, where thousands of angels are together, the saints who have already gone to heaven are gathered, and where Jesus lives. This is the place where you and I are invited to come.
Let me ask… Are you grateful? Thankful? Full of joy? The King of the Universe – the holy One – has invited you and me to come before Him. Do you answer that invitation EVERY DAY? Do you take advantage of it EVERY DAY? Throughout the day? Because if you do, then I’m fairly certain you live in a state of wonder and awe. Who wouldn’t? God is waiting for us. So let me encourage you to come, stand beside the angels and all the heavenly beings, and worship Him. TODAY! Maybe you need to read this passage in Hebrews12 to get a clearer of picture of the privilege that’s been given to us. I encourage you right now to stop what you’re doing, settle your mind down, and enter the presence of the Almighty God. And then worship Him for who He is. Let’s never take this incredible opportunity for granted.