Sometimes we long for simpler days when access to others required but a knock on their door or dialing a few numbers on the phone. Today we have a number of avenues through which we gain access to our friends and associates. Although some forms of modern communication give rise to legitimate concerns, we do enjoy greater access to the ones we love and, in most cases, find such access to be a precious blessing.
Yet, nothing comes close to matching the access we have with our Father through Jesus His Son. Such access is possible only because of His sacrifice and the Father’s love in sending Him to die for our sins (John 3:16). The writer of Hebrews explains that “we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that, His flesh…” (Hebrews 10:19-20).
This speaks to the mediatorial work of Christ. Jesus stands equally-related to both God and man. Paul clarifies Christ’s unique position, saying, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). This sheds light on Christ’s words to His disciples when they were troubled about His coming departure. He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
While these passages emphasize the work of Christ as our Mediator – the One through whom we gain hope of eternal access to the Father in heaven; it is also the case that Jesus presently serves as our great high priest who is seated at the right hand of the Father where “He always lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25). Intercession carries the idea of making entreaties on our behalf to the Father. When we sin, we call upon Jesus, our Advocate, to plead our case before the Father (1 John 2:1).
Aside from these forms of access, we must not forget about the day to day access we have with the Father through prayer. Unhindered by blocked or unhindered access, the faithful Christian is encouraged to pray continuously about all things (Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Even with the best forms of communication, we sometimes lose contact with others. This must not happen in our relationship to God. When it does, we must diligently search for and identify the sin which lies at the heart of the problem. Then, in penitent prayer, we must seek forgiveness so that we might once again walk hand-in-hand with our Savior (1 John 1:9).
–Glen Elliott–