Enter Boldly Where No Man Has Gone Before

Last time, we briefly touched on the phenomenal promise of 1st John 3:22, “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

The first half of that verse sounds like a blanket statement, with no exceptions; that is, until you read the rest of the verse. But the rest of the verse is there, isn’t it? There is no blank check for us to write on in any amount our heart desires that can be drawn on from the vast resources of the Bank of Heaven. There are requirements.

But, even with the requirements, this is a fantastic promise. Yet, we so often discard this kind of promise because we don’t always see our expected result when we pray, so we think, perhaps, the Bible is kidding.

But this promise isn’t made in isolation. In John 16:23-24, Jesus said this: “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

We are being invited to ask God. We are being promised that what we ask, the Father will give to us (That is Scriptural truth). And we are even being promised that the answers will bring us great joy.

Perhaps the boldest promise is found in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

That is a beautiful invitation to us to “come.” We are being encouraged to enter through prayer into the very throne room of God in heaven. Somehow, prayer transports us right to heaven, and we have a private audience with God. Do you realize what a privilege that is?

This wasn’t available to mankind until the church. Since the fall, when Adam lost the privilege of walking with God in the Garden during the cool of the day, man has had no direct access to God. We have had to go through an intermediary.

Oh, the common person was granted access to the outer courts of the temple, but access to God was blocked. The Holy of Holies, where God’s Shikinah glory resided, was off limits. But, it was there, in the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence was. It was there that the mercy seat resided. But access was blocked by a great veil. Only one person could enter only one time per year, and that was the High Priest. And he could only enter bearing the blood of the sacrifice.

But remember, one of the great events that happened concurrent with the cross was the rending of the veil of the temple from top to bottom. No human being could tear that thick, heavy veil. But God symbolically tore the veil as Christ purchased the right for us to enter. Christ purchased that right with His own blood shed for the remission of sin.

And now, Hebrews 10:19-20 says: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.” Amen! Amen! And Amen!

Now, as Star Trek declared, we have a “mission to go boldly where no man has ever gone before.” So, “Beam me up, Scotty, I need to go to heaven because I want to have a personal talk to God, my heavenly Father.” What beams us up is prayer.