Thread: "For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf" (Heb. 9:24).
"For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf" (Heb. 9:24).
Posted : 5 Nov, 2011 02:24 AM
Is it a privilege to have a Christian friend bear you upon his affectionate and believing prayers? Ah, yes! The intercessions of the Lord's people on your behalf are precious channels of heavenly blessing.
But there is a Friend still closer to the Fountain of mercy than your dearest earthly friend. There is a Friend still nearer and dearer to the Father than your closest earthly friend. It is Jesus, who always lives to make intercession for those who draw near to God by him (Heb. 7:25).
Oh, how precious is his declaration upon which you may calmly and confidently rest in any attack, or trial, or perplexity, "I have prayed for you" (Luke 22:32)! Yes, even when you cannot pray for yourself�whether from confusion of thought, or pain of body, or whatever�even when no friend is near to act as your mouth to God, there is still One, the Friend of friends, the ever-skillful Advocate and never-weary Intercessor�no praying saint nor interceding angel, but the Son of God himself who always appears in the presence of God moment by moment for you.
Oh then, keep the eye of your faith immovably fixed upon Christ's mediation. He intercedes for weak faith. He intercedes for tried faith. He intercedes for tempted faith. Yes, he intercedes even for him who thinks he has no faith. There is not a single believer whom he does not bear upon his heart, and whose prayers and needs he does not present in his ceaseless intercession.
When you deem yourself neglected and forgotten, a praying Savior in heaven is thinking of you. When you are tried and cast down, tempted to stumble, the interceding High Priest is at that moment within the Holy of Holies, asking on your behalf strength, consolation, and upholding grace. And when sin has wounded, when guilt distresses, when unbelief beclouds, who is it who stands in the breach, who makes intercession, who removes the darkness, and who brings back the smile of a forgiving Father? The Lord Jesus, the ever-interceding Savior.
Oh, look up, tried and assaulted believer! You have a Friend at court. You have an Advocate in the judicatory of heaven. You have an Intercessor curtained within the Holy of Holies, transacting all your concerns, and through whom you may have access to God with boldness.
"For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf" (Heb. 9:24).
