I’ve done some horrible things in my life. I’ve lied to cover my reputation when I should have told the truth. I’ve refused to meet with people that felt I had wronged them and wanted to reconcile. I’ve ruined several people’s Father’s Day because of hurtful things I said to them.

                But with all of the terrible things I’ve done, I can still approach God. He will always accept me when I approach His throne. The author of Hebrews tells us we can boldly approach God regardless of what we’ve done.

                Hebrews 4:14 arrives at the main argument of the book: Christ is better. The author has already given us several examples of how Christ is better. He has said that Christ is better than the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3), better than the angels (Hebrews 1:4-2:18), better than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-13), and Christ is better than the Levitical order of the priests (Hebrews 4:14-12:3).

                In Hebrews 4:14-16 we learn, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (NASB).

                Like us, Christ was flesh and blood. But unlike us, Christ was without sin (see Hebrews 7:26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5). He never responded wrongly to any temptations He felt. He was perfect and never made a mistake.

                Yet in many ways, Christ was like us. He was flesh and blood like us. He ate and slept like us. He laughed and wept like us. Because of this, when we approach Him we find mercy and grace because He knows our troubles and struggles. He knows our temptations and trepidations.

                This is what makes our God so special to us. He is not some Zen-like object of worship that we hope to attain on a level with someday. Instead, we enjoy a relationship with Him based on what we have in common.

                At the end of Hebrews 4:16, it says, “let us draw near” to Jesus on His throne of grace. Another way to translate this phrase is “let us keep coming to” or as the paraphrase rendering of the Bible—The Message—puts it, “Let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give.”

                Regardless of what we have done, we can always approach Christ. No matter how we mess up in life nothing can prevent us from approaching God. At His throne, we will find mercy and grace in our time of need. He is ready to give it – and we need it.

Christopher L. Scott, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, is a pastor and freelance writer. Christopher L. Scott writes from Exeter, CA. Learn more about his writing ministry at ChristopherLynnScott.com.

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