Beyond the Veil

I'm going through a Bible study this year that is about the New Testament fullfillment of the Tabernacle and how the Old Testament tabernacle gains it's fullness through the New Covenant through Christ. It is SO neat and I am learning so much. I am seeing how very true God's Word is and how he has carefully planned the redemption of his people. I've been progressing through each part of the tabernacle, the alter, the Holy Place, and now the Holy of Holies. As I stepped for the first time into studying the Holy of Holies today, here were some thoughts:

• "Perhaps you will wonder as you complete this week's study how a God so holy could be so committed to reconciling sinful humanity to Himself. Our God is both terrifying and tender, universal and personal."
• "So great was God's glory that entrance behind the veil for the masses had to be withheld, or they would die. The veil not only protected God's dwelling place, but also protected the people yet unprepared to stand in His presence.
• "We can never partake of God's glory without His presence evoking a change in us. This is exactly why we avoid His presence."
• "This is the marvelous two edged sword of intimacy. We see Him more clearly and we see ourselves more clearly. It is the perfect safeguard against pride. You can mark His word on this: true intimacy breeds humility."
• When Christ died on the cross, the curtain tore! "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and rocks split." (Matt. 27:51)