I have heard Hebrews 4:16 quoted many times. Think about it:
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Wow! What an amazing and encouraging verse! To think that we could come near God’s throne with confidence! Only those who do not know Who God is or who they are could hear this and be unaffected!
Imagine driving to Washington, DC, going to the White House, parking at the main entrance, and walking right into the Oval Office to see the president! That would be bold (As well as impossible)!
How can it be that sinful, depraved, fallen human beings like you and me can approach God at all, much less approach Him boldly to “find grace to help us in our time of need?”
So, here’s the thing, we all love this verse, but we must read it in context. Here’s verse 14:
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Everyone loves to quote verse 16 and celebrate the freedom to come into God’s presence with confidence, yet only those who “have a Great High Priest, Jesus the Son of God” can be confident they will be welcome!
Jesus must be our personal “High Priest” –our personal representative before God. If not, even the thought of approaching the Throne of God is terrifying.
If you have surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ and are one of His followers, you may come before God’s Throne of Grace, and come confidently.
But if not, you dare not.
Those who refuse to surrender to Him now cannot approach Him. But one day, they will stand before His Throne--for judgment.
So, how confident are you to come into God's presence?
I know this is a dramatic message, but we must share it. Do you know of someone who needs to hear it?
