The Revelation of the Torn Veil

Per God's intent, the Holy of Holies was considered sacred ground.  Only the high priest could enter, him then only once annually, and never without blood (Hebrews 9:7).  He entered under threat of death for if anyone entered unworthily, that person would drop dead under God's presence.  Because of this, the high priest wore bells on the hem of his robe to ensure he was heard as he moved around behind the veil of the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 28:34-35).

And so it was, first with the tabernacle and later with the temple, until Matthew 27:50-51 (NLT) . . . "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.  Then behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom . . ."

All Christians recognize the moment of our redemption.  But what not as often correctly interpreted is the veil being torn.   It was symbolic to be sure, but what it symbolized I venture to say is largely misunderstood.  Many view the tearing of the veil as indicative of anyone being allowed to enter the Holy of Holies.  But the true revelation of the veil being torn was not that we could enter the Holy of Holies but that God could get out!

It is accurate to view the Holy of Holies as a sacred place but only because Man was spiritually separated from God; everything about Man was corrupt.  But it's paramount to recognize that God never wanted to be separated from Man.  God strictly regulating Man in the Holy of Holies was not intended to emphasize His sanctity next to Man.  In confining His presence to that space and only engaging one man once annually, God was taking what He could get!  Jesus' death freed God from the Holy of Holies just like it freed us from sin!  Once it was "finished," God could relocate to the only place He ever wanted reside, Man's heart.

It is unfortunate, though, that even today the way many so-called Christians "do church" is a throwback to the law-governed religion of the Israelites and Jews.  Many believe that church is where you go to commune with God which is what foolish religion has taught us.  In truth, we are caging God in yet again whereas the beauty of Jesus' death and God's exit from the Holy of Holies is that now God can go with us and be in our lives continually and indefinitely.  It's bad enough that we think that communing with God can only occur in church.  What's worse is that we leave Him there.  The high priest could not take God from the Holy of Holies.  Church people simply choose not to take God with them.  You have to know that God would prefer to go with you to work, school, home, the grocery store, etc. rather remaining at church or in the Holy of Holies.

The victory for God in Man's heart is being with Man in every facet of his existence.  In accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, God gets to make His home in our hearts.  In taking God with us, we can make any land we stand on into the Holy of Holies.