Things will never be the same. Not after last Friday night’s episode when a man, frantic to reach the President with word of the collapse of the atmosphere, jumped the fence in front of the White House, ran across the lawn, scurried up the steps and was then able to enter the White House and even approach the private living quarters of the President’s family. Security at the north portico is probably now about as tight as a pair of Miley Cyrus skinny jeans and the secret service agents on duty don’t even blink.
Ordinary people are not granted direct access to high officials or the places they live and extreme measures are employed in place to keep them out of such places. Only by a mere oversight in the lowest of low-tech security measures – not locking the front door of the house – was Omar Gonzalez able to penetrate the otherwise highly sophisticated and impenetrable security measures surrounding 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
As an ordinary citizen, you will be fortunate indeed if you are ever able to join a tour of the White House. Tours are only for groups of 10 or more, must be made months in advance by special arrangement through a member of Congress, require a government-issued ID and then are only given as self-guided tours under heavy guard.
What a striking contrast that is to the access I have to the very King of Kings, the Lord Most High. While even dignitaries must follow long and complicated protocols in hopes of having even a brief audience with the President, I have immediate and unlimited access to the throne room of the God of the universe. No one and nothing can keep me from running into His presence. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10. No one and nothing can ever separate me from His presence and the only ID I need is the indwelling Holy Spirit in whom I was sealed on the day of my redemption. (Ephesians 4:30).
At the moment of Christ’s death on the cross the thick and heavy curtain in the temple that separated men from the dwelling place of God was torn in two from top to bottom. No longer did man have to rely on the sacrifice of animals and the perfect protocol of a high priest to gain access to God’s seat of mercy and grace. Now, through the sacrificial death of God’s own Son, Jesus, the way has been opened for us to meet with God face-to-face. (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45)
When you feel the world falling in on you… Run! Run as fast as you can in prayer to throne room and the everlasting arms of your heavenly Father.
PS – Don’t forget to lock the front door.
