¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus …

What was taught previously as a ground breaking concept (Heb 4:16) is now taken as a given. This is the “so what” aspect of Bible reading, and it is signaled by the two words, “Therefore” and “since.” If what has been said up to this point in the book of Hebrews is true, then there is a logical consequence or a truth that follows. So far, it has been established that we believers have access to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). The intervening chapters flesh out that truth in detail.

Before we find out what we should do about it, let’s relish the concept, as the author does. Think for a moment of what this means that we can have confidence to enter God’s holy place. Isaiah was completely arrested by that experience.

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.’ And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1–4)

What a wonderful thing to be witness to such an exaltation of the Lord. But to step into the holy place would be to step on the “train of His robe” which filled every inch of the temple! How could a mere mortal do such a thing. In fact, Isaiah’s response was instinctive:

“Then I said, ‘Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’ ” (Isaiah 6:5).

Yet, just like the angel took care of the “unclean lips” problem (Isaiah 6:6), so now Christ has completely taken care of our sin problem. We have full confidence, humble though it should be, to come before God, as it were. Is that not a wonderful privilege?

Lord, when I consider Your holiness, I am reticent because of my unholiness. Yet because of Your word, I do come to You in absolute confidence.