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16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:16-25 NIV)
I have a fascination and fear of bridges. Some are beautiful works of art; some are so high, they're from "the other place" and not Heaven. If you've ever driven through Louisiana on Interstate Highway 10 you know which bridges are not my favorite. Closer to home, if you've ever taken the Toll Road from Seguin to Buda; the Buda fly-over, I know not technically a bridge, scares my sins right out of me! But bridges serve a purpose. It allows our getting from Point A to Point B and over the body of water or valley that would prevent that. So, bridges are good. Their height sometimes not!
There is a connection between the word bridge and priest, for the role of the preist was to be the bridge-builder to connect humanity and Heaven. In this passage we hear that Jesus is "the great priest over the house of God," and through Him we have all things. God's desire as the first verses state is to renew the covenant with us but this time with the law being in our hearts, and in our minds; we will be forgiven people and we will live out a life that embodies the love behind the love to begin with. God put an end to sacrifices with the sacrifice of the Sacrificial Lamb. The death of Christ has the gospel account about the curtain in the temple being rent in two; Christ's death opened the curtain for all time, and the invitation is extended to us to draw near the throne of God with sincere hearts and with the full assurance that faith brings, since our hearts have been washed by the blood of Jesus. Our call is to hold unswervingly to the hope we possess, for He who promised this is faithfuil. We are called to encourage one another toward love and good deeds, but to encourage everyone to hold fast to the hope that we will see life as "the Day" approaches.
Friends, through the events of this Holy Week, the bridge is there for us to use to cross from death to life; from the fear of the present, to the hope and victory of the Day. Through faith we can walk safely and victoriously across the bridge that Christ has provided, and through His death and resurrection, we have full access to the blessings of God in this life and the life beyond.
PRAYER: Awesome God, we thank You for all You have done for us through Jesus. We want full access to You and Heaven and we surrender ourselves to You; grant us the victory; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Encourage others to have hope and to live a life of hope.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
