Back off or Draw Near

In the Old Testament one gets the sense, that even though God had drawn near His people to dwell in their midst, the people were kept at a distance. When the people were delivered from Egypt they encountered the Lord at Mt. Sinai, but only Moses was able to climb the mountain and meet with Lord. Everyone else was told to stay away and not even touch the mountain.
When the Tent of Meeting was constructed, the Lord favored the people with His presence, but not all had the same privilege. It was only the High Priest who could enter the Holy of Holies, and only the Levites who were able to serve. Everyone else had to keep their distance. They had to "back off".
But when we come to book of Hebrews, we encounter the phrase over and over - "draw near". In verse 19 we find this: "...but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God." Again in verse 25 we find: "Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him,..." So what is difference? What changed?
According to the author of Hebrews the priesthood changed. The Levitcial priesthood was filled by mere humans who themselves were sinful and who needed to offer sacrifice for their own sins. Their mortality also got in the way making it necessary for many to fill this role.
But another priest arose according to the order of Melchizedek. He is described (vs. 26-27) as "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself."
And who is this priest? It is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. His perfect life made Him the perfect sacrifice. His indestructible life, made Him the perfect High Priest. So now, having offered Himself, once for all, He lives to make intercession for us. He sits at the right hand of God pointing to His perfect sacrifice, and declaring that we who draw near to Him are no longer to be separated from the Father. We have been reunited through the blood of Christ's cross. Through the sacrifice of Himself and through His eternal priesthood, He is able to save us to the uttermost.
Brothers and sisters, we live in a privileged day. No longer is the message "back off" but it is draw near. And the reason we can draw near is because we have a High Priest who is like none other. We have a High Priest who lives forever to speak on our behalf giving us the confidence to "draw near with pure hearts with full assurance of faith". Rejoice today for this privilege and by His grace let us go out and proclaim to the nations that the Holy God calls us to draw near through His beloved Son.