When I was a youngster, several of my family members worked at the hometown movie theater, the Irving. My uncle was the projectionist, my aunt was behind the candy counter, and my great-aunt was in the ticket booth. The Irving was like a second home to me, and I always had total access to all areas of the theater because of my family connections. If the balcony happened to be closed, I would simply walk under the chain stretched across the staircase leading up to it and take my usual seat in the front row of the balcony. At other times, I'd go behind the curtain to explore the stage area, even though it was off-limits to the public.

Later in life, I had similar experiences while working as a reporter when my press pass provided me full access at special events I covered. Others know from their own such situations in life what a privilege it is to have an "all-access pass."

Spiritually speaking, this is what God has done for all His children. There was a time when God's Presence was limited (as far as mankind was concerned) to the Most Holy Place -- the Holy of Holies within the Temple in Israel. Moreover, the only person who could venture beyond the veil leading into that inner sanctum was the high priest, and even he could enter only once a year on the appointed day to make atonement for the sins of all the people with the blood of animal sacrifices.

God had instituted the system of animal sacrifices under the Old Covenant to foreshadow the perfect sacrifice for sin that Jesus would make with His own precious blood on the cross, the substance of -- as well as the completion and fulfillment of -- all that these ceremonies had for so long foreshadowed: "Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place, once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12).

With that, God tore the veil from top to bottom (from heaven to earth, proving God did it!) which always separated holy God from sinful, fallen man. Jesus the God-man had obliterated the barrier for all who would ever place their trust for salvation in Him alone by His own precious blood sacrifice. So we read of His death on the cross: "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:50-51).

Now, because of Jesus' substitutional sacrifice, which was made "once for all," the sin debt of all mankind has been paid in its entirety. This means there is a free pardon available for everyone who will receive Christ by faith alone (John 1:10-13), which in turn allows everyone who does so complete access to God's throne anytime we desire.

What an awesome privilege and blessing to know that our Lord is there for us 24/7 every single day, and always will be! He will "never leave nor forsake us" (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus promised: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). At the end of the age, we will be with Him in His glorious kingdom, so there's not the smallest fraction of a second that any believer can ever be separated or barred from His Presence (Romans 8:38-39).

Because of what Jesus did (and continues to do) for us as High Priest, we have been granted a spiritual all-access pass to the throne room in heaven and told we can come in anytime with the fullness of assurance: "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).