“Such a high priest [Jesus] meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” Hebrews 7:26
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14
If you were asked to describe who God is, what would you say? What do you think He’s like? Is He a mean, vengeful God? Someone who’s just waiting for us to make a slip-up so He can send the proverbial lightning bolt? Does He take a perverse delight in our struggles? Perhaps He’s uncaring and washed His hands of us long ago. Or maybe you see a wimpy, spineless being Who has no power to do anything to help us. Are you blaming Him for things that have happened to you? Perhaps you think it’s His fault that you went through difficulties or loss. You may think God caused the problem. Or at the very least, He didn’t act to prevent the problem.
This verse in Hebrews gives us a clear picture of just one part of Who God is. This is talking about Jesus, but we need to remember that Jesus is God. First, He’s holy. What does that mean to you? Perfect? Irrelevant? Untouchable? Well, He is perfect. But that doesn’t mean He’s irrelevant. In fact, He’s very relevant. Being holy means just what it says later in the sentence: set apart from sinners. Since we’re all sinners, that just proves that God is distant, right? Not at all. You see, God loves you and me so much that He made a way around that. He didn’t want there to be distance between Him and us so He made a way. That way is what we see in the verse from John. Jesus, while perfect, holy and blameless, chose to leave His home above the heavens and come down to this earth. He experienced life on this earth. He felt sorrow and grief, He witnessed evil and its effects, He was, well, human.
Then He chose to die. Why would He do that? Why would He choose to live as a human, then die a horribly painful death? The answer is so simple that it’s almost difficult to believe. Because He loves you. Because He wants to be there for you. Because you are that important to Him.
Where are you right now? Wherever you are, God’s there with you. Are you in the pit of depression? God’s in the pit with you. Are you in a hospital having just heard some awful news? God is wanting to hold you in the midst of that. Are you grieving or lonely? God is sitting right next to you. Are you angry and bitter? God can take it. Here’s something else about God: He won’t leave you. Maybe you think you’ve been pushing Him away for too long. Surely He’s gotten tired of that and has left you. That’s not our God. His patience is beyond comprehension. He’s still waiting for your return, still loving you with a never-ending love. That’s Who God is. Turn to Him and He’ll do the rest. I’m not saying your difficult circumstances will necessarily disappear. But God will give you a peace and a love that will fill the deepest recesses of your heart with pure joy!