For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.25 He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.26 Otherwise, He would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages,for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— 28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.    Hebrews 9:24-28 (HCSB)
Did you read that first line, verse 24? The Messiah is not hanging out just in church but He is in the presence of God for me. Jesus is in heaven where the Father lives with all those who have gone before me and He is also with me right now.
Another friend of mine has left this world and gone on to live with the Father in heaven. I am going to miss him. I weep for his family who will acutely miss him. For some period of time, determined by the Father, we will be separated. But Jesus bridges that separation. Right now, Jesus is with my friend in heaven and He is with me.
Because of Jesus, my friend passed through the separation, the door, between life here and eternal life. He doesn’t ever have to suffer or labor again. He ran the race given to him and completed it well. He met his appointment to die in this life and entered into the glory that is with Jesus.
Hallelujah!
Praise God in His sanctuary.
Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
2 Praise Him for His powerful acts;
praise Him for His abundant greatness.
3 Praise Him with trumpet blast;
praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance;
praise Him with flute and strings.
5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals;
praise Him with clashing cymbals.
6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.
Hallelujah! Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Psalm 150 (HCSB)
Easter morning is still here. If it seems like it has dimmed in your world, then pull out your MP3 or iPad or iPhone and find a hymn or worship song like Psalm 150 and relocate the praise that is still resounding in the air. Jesus has overcome the darkness and defeat that was once death. No matter how many clouds attempt to block out the truth that the Light shines forth in Truth and always will, Jesus died once for all. There are no more rituals needed; no more sacrifices required. “It is finished.â€
Jesus never said that I shouldn’t be sad or grieve when someone that I love has left me. He wept outside the grave of His cousin and friend, Lazarus (John 11). I personally think He wept out of compassion for Mary and Martha. He felt their pain and grief. But Jesus knew that just as Lazarus’ death was about to be defeated, so would my death and your death and all those that we love who chose Jesus. It is a once for all defeat.
I Need You More written and sung by Lindell Cooley
