Even the Immoral and Godless Man May Come to God
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Hebrews 12:18-21
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”
The encouragement we get from this verse is that, thankfully, we have been brought near to God through Christ and therefore can approach Him without fear when we need anything. We can bring with us anyone who is immoral, godless, unbelieving, and bitter into the presence of God to find forgiveness and healing. This is made possible through the New Covenant.
In contrast, when the Old Covenant was given to the people through Moses on the mountain, access was only given to Moses. Let’s read about it in Exodus 19:12-13.
You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, “Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.” When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.
Aren’t you glad that God has not placed such a boundary around His presence now? The throne of mercy and grace is available to all who will come through Jesus Christ, even the repentant immoral, or godless person may come. Listen to the encouragement of the New Covenant.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying “Know the Lord,” for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.
God is still a holy God who cannot tolerate sin. He has not changed. What has happened that has changed everything is that He sent His Son to propitiate for our sins, to remove them, and to give us His righteousness. Peter said it well in 1 Pet. 2:24-25. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” Jesus has made us holy and perfected us, so we can approach God without fear. Amazing grace and love!
We will learn more about what we have come to through Jesus Christ in the verses to follow, but today, be encouraged to draw near to the throne of mercy and grace, grateful that Jesus has brought you to God for the glory of His name. Live to love with Jesus, depending on grace upon grace to be yours as you abide in Him.