The Go-Between

Post television, I worked in middle management as a Public Relations Manager. Any of you, who’ve ever served as a manager, know there are always hurdles to push ideas through. You present them to your boss, then the boss goes to the director, then after that, your suggestions might travel to the president of the company. Sometimes the red tape gets downright frustrating, and always take longer than envisioned.

As I take a swing through the entire Bible, today I’m parked on Exodus, and tangled up in a lot of red tape. I’m reading through how the first priests, Aaron and his sons, prepared to meet with God.

They dressed a certain, very ornate way.

Wore head pieces that said, “Holy is the Lord.”

Washed their hands and feet.

Anointed everything in the Tent of Meeting with oil.

Anointed themselves with oil

Lamps burned 24/7 with pure olive oil.

Sounded bells when Aaron enters the Holy of Holies.

Slaughtered a bull at the front of the tent of meeting as a sin offering.

Splashed the blood on the altar, and placed it on the priests’ right ears, big toe and right hands.

Cooked the ram sacrifice, then ate it.

Also sacrificed two year-old lambs daily.

If they didn’t do things just right, they’d die.

Now that’s a pressure job.

There’s more, but you are getting the picture. Aaron and his sons were middle managers. The Israelites depended on Aaron and his sons to enter God’s presence for them.

Today I’m feeling a little guilty, but grateful.

Because of the once-and-for all sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, I can plop down at my kitchen table, fold my hands, and immediately enter God’s presence, without waiting on priests to do it for me.

I walk into the Holy of Holies when I’m praying in my car, and I may not have washed my hands.

I don’t have to wear special clothes to meet with God. As I write this, I am dressed in mismatched pajamas. Maybe that’s TMI.

But we are all able to commune with God without the red tape, because Jesus is our go-between. What a gift!

But sometimes we take that gift for granted.

Here’s what I am reminded of today.

When I charge into the Holy of Holies, without all the prerequisites, I need to enter this sacred place with respect.

I don’t always do that. Sometimes my prayers are a little too casual.

I need to praise God for sacrificing his son so I can meet with him.

Praise him for his holiness, and all his attributes.

I need to thank him for the many blessings in my life.

And lay my life as a sacrifice before him.

There are many times when I thank God I live on this side of the cross. I love having direct access to my loving Father in Heaven.

He must have known I don’t like red tape.