By Alice Smith
Two thousand years ago Jesus hung on the cross and cried out, “It is finished!” At the sound of those words, the flesh over His heart ripped in two, redeeming fallen humanity from eternal separation with God. Heaven’s windows opened and the hand of God reached into the temple tearing the veil in the Holy of Holies from top to bottom. God’s heart was forever exposed to all who would seek Him. His heart was open to all who would commune with Him. His throne room was now accessible to all who would enter.
“It is finished!” Finished forever are the days when God is unapproachable; finished forever are the days when His children must stand outside as the high priest intercedes for them. God Himself initiated the level of intimate intercession that can occur only beyond the veil. Such communion with God is prayer at its deepest level. And it is available to all who will come into the ‚Äö√Ñ√∫the inner chamber‚Äö√Ñ√π of the Holy of Holies.
The angels know the dimensions of your dynamic relationship with the Lord. They have seen the yearning of God’s heart reflected in His face–a yearning to simply be with you. Heaven’s hosts applaud with delight as you enter through the door into the Lord’s inner chamber, the Holy of Holies, and are enveloped by the sheer radiance of His glory!
It’s difficult for us to imagine how in the Old Testament times only one man, the High Priest, could enter the Holy of Holies. And he could only enter once each year. Because he was the only qualified priest, the other priests would live their entire lives without ever having the opportunity to enter the Holy of Holies. And women? Forget it. It was a man thing. Now look at you. Peter says you are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood (2 Pet. 3:9). As a priest of God, you are an invited guest beyond the veil. It doesn’t matter if you are a woman or a man, you can enter joyfully and boldly at any time because of the blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary (see Heb. 10:19-20).
Draw near with sincerity into the Holy of Holies–your heart full of faith as you wait expectantly for the Lord Himself to appear to you. You are positioning yourself for what others say is impossible–an audience with the Most High God! And sure enough He arrives. As He symbolically walks into your prayer room, His train fills the temple. His glory cloud surrounds you and His presence mesmerizes. Almighty God is the center of it all–He is the glorious one! You begin to bow when suddenly and unexplainably you fall on your face before Him. This is the most sacred spot on Earth–or is this Earth? Are you not caught up in His presence, lost in His glory? Earth has lost all significance to you now.
Intercession is a stethoscope to the heart of God. Shhh! Listen! The more you listen the more you’ll hear His heart. The more you hear His heart the more transformed into His likeness you will become. Can you hear it even now? That is the Father’s heartbeat. Listen carefully. You’ll soon discover that His heart beats for your company.
Jesus invites you to a table set for two: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20, NIV). He said that if you would open the door and invite Him in, He would sit down and sup with you. At this table for two the Spirit of God prepares and serves the spiritual cuisine Christ offers you. The diet is varied. One day it may be a revelation, the next day it may be a reassurance. Another day the Lord may promise you an answer to prayer. Our nourishment comes not only from His love words, but it also comes through being in His presence. It is good that you have entered with an appetite for the Lord!
One of the keys to knowing Christ in the intimate Holy of Holies is to lay down your preconceptions. You will never fully understand heavenly protocol, so check all expectations at the door. After all, self is not allowed into this level of intimate intercession. This is no place for self-centered childishness. This is no time to force your requests upon Him or take advantage of His attention with your gripes or greed. This Spirit-to-spirit communion will dissipate at the slightest evidence of self-domination.
Although the door of intimacy is open to all who will enter, so few actually take advantage of this rich place of prayer. The Lord delights in the believer who yearns to know what cannot be naturally known except he or she presses in beyond the torn veil into His holy presence. Won’t you come close to Him now? He’s sitting at the table for two waiting for you!