Entering the Holy of Holies

When it comes to worship, I have to admit that I didn't really understand it for most of my life. I grew up in a denomination that focused on hymns and liturgy, then I became a part of a denomination that was a little less structured. I thought that the service overall was the focal point. The sermon was the "main event" and I was to make sure to not get distracted by the getting up, sitting down, getting up, sitting down.

Then I walked through the doors of Calvary Chapel Albuquerque in 1988. Praise and Worship with guitars, drums, etc. People with their hands raised up filled the auditorium, a few people danced around near the front. It was a shock to my system, yet it made me hungry for the experience I was seeing in front of me. The problem? I never got it. Never had the "liver quiver". Never felt entirely comfortable dancing. Hand raising? That was gutsy for me, and after a while it became easier to do. However, none of that really gave me that feeling that I had made it into the throne room of God as part of worship.

I think Gayle Erwin captures this thought process succinctly:

So, what else troubles us? Perhaps that mythical "place" in our spirit where we feel constantly close to God, surrounded and protected from all worry and difficulty. Many seek that "place." Some sing progressively more serious or intimate songs of worship until they feel they will be granted entry to the "Holy of Holies." How sad that, by such, they resew the veil after Jesus ripped it open. We are in the Holy of Holies at this very moment! How else could we "come boldly" to the throne of Grace? - Gayle Erwin "The Servant Quarters"

It hit me like a ton of bricks. I was trying so hard, like building up speed to break open a door, only to find out it was open the whole time. There's no special trick, no particular song or music style that will "get you into the Holy of Holies". We merely need to enter into prayer, and we are there. And worship? It's not about ME anyway! It's about God!

Does that nullify the feelings of love and joy that people feel when singing songs of praise and adoration to the God they love? Absolutely not. But don't make the mistake thinking that it is necessary to enter the throne room of our Heavenly Father. There's no need to build up speed for take off. It's like the Transporter in Star Trek. Instant access. If that doesn't blow your mind, I don't know what will! Worship is not the access to our Father in heaven. Prayer is the access.

That leaves the worship part to honor God with our voices, our songs, our hands, our feet, our lives. I'm just sorry it took me 35 years to figure it out. I'm a slow learner, good thing Jesus is patient with us slower folks.

When will God show up?

Have you ever shown up for an appointment only to find out that the other person isn't there or doesn't show up? Many times it's because I messed up the day or the hour, but it can still be frustrating sitting there waiting.

I admit I'm not the most patient person in the world. Just ask my family or the staff at CCM. There are times I wonder if God is going to show up and fix the things that are broken in people's lives. There are times I wonder if I'm on the same page as my Heavenly Father. I especially feel that way when counseling people at church about trials and problems that arise. No one likes going through tough times, fiery trials, or just plain "life". You hear yourself asking a lot of "Whys?".

I love what my Pastor shared recently as part of his daily devotion:

"Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14

Waiting in this context doesn't mean that you stand around and look at your watch and say, "God, where are You?" Waiting on the Lord means (in Hebrew) to entwine yourself around the Lord like a grapevine winds itself around an arbor, a rose that winds itself around a trellis, or an ivy plant that winds around a pillar. The ivy plant has no strength in itself but from what it hangs onto. The idea here is to entwine yourself around the Lord and gain your strength from Him.

The desperation of the psalmist here is obvious in the New American Standard Bible translation. He says "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." He would have just given up unless he knew he would see the goodness of the Lord in all of what he was going through.

"Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:31, NASB -
Pastor Mark Martin - Calvary Community Church

Let us all not grow weary in doing good. Let us not fall down and not get back up. God does show up. He's never late, rarely early, but always right on time.