BLOCKADES IN THE WAY TO HEAVEN
Genesis 3:24
Morning Meditation 9/6/2013
"So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."
THE WAY TO THE FATHER IS BLOCKED
Man must be reconciled to God before he can be in fellowship with God. First, there is the acknowledgment of sin. There are those who refuse the Holy Spirit's conviction. They will not face what God says about them (Rom. 3:11-18).
If one does not acknowledge sin that relates to himself, he will at the great White Throne Judgment. The secrets of man's heart will be out in the open for the whole assembled multitude to view. There will be no argument there.
I have heard people make light of sin and make remarks like this: "I will talk my way out of it." There is no such thing as disclaiming a life lived apart from the Creator. Some think that if they are good people and keep the law they will go to heaven when the time comes. There is nothing further from the truth than this. The man who makes this claim is ignorant of God's holiness and justice. There is only one thing that will set men free from sin and forgive and justify them. That is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as Adam and Eve were barred from the garden after they sinned, all of mankind will be barred from entrance into heaven.
THE WAY IS BLOCKED BY THE LAW
The way is blocked by God's law. Exodus 19:12-13, "And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount."
God set boundaries for the nation of Israel and the violation of the boundary was death. Touching the mount seemed but a small thing. But the Lord was giving them a lesson of the dangers in a forbidden approach to Himself. They were not to touch the mount until He said it was ok.
The law instead of being an open door to heaven was a blockade. The reason it is a blockade there is no way that one could keep the law. Romans 3:19-20, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Next--
THE NEW WAY IN PROSPECT
Hebrews 9:7-8, "But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:"
The way into the holiest was not opened to the unbelievers in that day. The Sacrifice had not yet been made. When Jesus came on the scene, He opened the way, and declared it so that it could be understood. Next--
THE END OF THIS WAY
John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Hebrews 4:14-16, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
THE CONDITIONS OF ENTRANCE
Ephesians 3:12, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." It is the Lord's faith that opens the way. The doors are wide open to any one who believes the gospel.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE WHO ENTER
First there is the privilege of acceptance. Ephesians 1:6, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." The grace of God is beyond our human understanding. However, it is a fact that this is the way God saves. It is true that one is, "accepted in the beloved," and for a guilt ridden sinner to know in his mind that he is accepted in the beloved is almost more than he can stand. Then he is also invited into a fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, is another awesome experience. 1 John 1:3, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
