Far Off

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation...17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."
Ephesians 2:13-14;17-18

Paul is talking about on the surface of these verses, the separation between the Gentiles and the Jews. But he is also, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, talking about something much deeper: our separation from God. In Biblical times, there was a "wall of separation" between the Court of the Gentiles, and the rest of the temple where Jews were allowed. It was in the Court of the Gentiles where the money changers would have set up their tables, and the goat and sheep merchants would be there to rip you off as well. The Gentiles were separated from the Jews, but more importantly to our Lord, they were separated from God. Paul here, is speaking of that separation being torn down through the blood of Jesus Christ. Beloved, through Jesus, there is no separation from God, no matter who you are. All who were far off have been brought near. It does not matter if you have been separated from God by religion, or by your failure to keep the rules, or some so-called "huge" sin in your life. Through the forgiveness found in the blood of Jesus Christ, we can be brought near to God.

The very fact that I was a "huge" sinner, running around in rebelliousness and disobedience, and that Jesus' blood can bring me near to God, blows my mind, because after all, I know me. But beloved, that is exactly what He has done for us. Through repentance for our sins, we find forgiveness in the blood of Jesus Christ. We were once "far off." We have been separated from God by our sins. But now we have been brought near, because the blood of Jesus Christ washes us clean, and removes our sin from us. I still, after so many years, shake my head in amazement at the love that God the Father has for you and me...especially me, because like I said, I know me, and my propensity for the flesh. But He loves me. And He loves you. So that we can be washed clean in the blood of Jesus. An old hymn says, "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins. And sinners plunged beneath the flood lose all their guilty stains." Beloved, that is you and I. We who are sinners have been made clean. We have been washed in the blood. And now we are clean! What a liberating thing!

So today, as we walk out the door, on our way to who knows where, let us remember, that we were once so far away, and now have been brought so near to God, through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which He shed for us on the cross of Calvary. Amen.