Due to the snow, we didn’t gather at the building today, but that doesn’t mean we can’t meet with God! That’s the amazing thing about the New Covenant: We don’t need a special place or person to meet with God. We are His Temple (Eph 2:21-22), and Jesus is our High Priest (Heb 10:21) and only mediator (1 Tim 2:5). He is the One who ushers us into God’s presence – whether we come alone or with others. And once we are there, no matter who is speaking, it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us. (1 Jn 2:27)
Thanks to the New Covenant, inaugurated in His blood and received by faith, we can come straight to the Father, meet with God – directly. (Heb 4:14-16)
The New Covenant was first articulated by Jeremiah (31:33-34) and repeated by the author of Hebrews (8:8-12). Jeremiah knew it was coming, he just didn’t know when. God, however, had a plan! In the “fullness of time,” He sent His Son (Gal 4:4-6) to inaugurate the New Covenant in His blood. That’s what the communion cup represents! (1 Cor 11:25)
According to both Jeremiah and the book of Hebrews, the New Covenant has the following features:
- It is for the house of Israel – but Gentiles are grafted in, Hallelujah! (Rom 11:17)
- He will put His laws in our minds. That’s so important; we need to retain the knowledge of God in our minds, be ever mindful of His presence and will. (Rom 1:28)
- He will write His laws on our hearts! God’s will is no longer an external standard inscribed on stone tablets. It is branded on the flesh of our new hearts. His desires become ours; His will becomes ours. Christianity is lived from the inside out, God, Himself, working by His Spirit to make us like Jesus. (Phil 2:12-13; Gal 4:19; Col 1:27)
- He will be our God! We will have no other gods before Him; He will fill up the screen of our lives. Our hearts will be so full of Him that there won’t be room for idols or competing loves.
- We will be His people! He will finally have a people who are totally committed to Him, a people He can love freely who love Him back. They are responsive to His voice, an extension of His kingdom in the earth. (Jn 10:27; Titus 2:14; 1 Tim 2:9)
- Each and every one will know Him personally! In the New Covenant, each one has full access to God through personal and intimate relationship. (Jn 17:3, Phil 3:10)
- Our iniquity is pardoned and our sins forgotten! The evil in our fallen nature is absolved, and none of our wicked deeds are remembered – at all. Nothing is held against us; there is no breach in our relationship with the Father, thanks to the Prince of Peace. (Ro 5:1-2; 1 Jn 1:9)
So, weather isn’t a deterrent to meeting with God – just whether or not we will come!
New Covenant saints have the incredible privilege of meeting with the God of the Universe, thanks to what Jesus has done. Don’t take it for granted! (Heb 2:14)
Heb 10:19-25 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
