In the classic film, “The Wizard of Oz”, there are many improbable, yet memorable scenes. By today’s standards, the special effects were a bit hokey. However, there is one part that stands out for its surprise factor and eventual humor. As Dorothy and her ragtag entourage enter the Emerald City, they are met with an imposing experience. They have need of the services of Oz, but he is unapproachable. With a lot of smoke and a loud booming voice, he presents himself as one to be feared and avoided. This all changes when Toto pulls back the curtain to reveal just a man with a large speaker and a bunch of dials, knobs, and levers creating the allusion of being bigger than he is.
This reminds us of another scene involving a powerful being behind a curtain. In the Old Testament tabernacle, God resided in the Holy of Holies. This was an area separated from the rest of the structure by a heavy curtain. The difference being that what was behind this curtain truly was powerful and a bit frightening. He was unapproachable because man’s sin made him unacceptable in the presence of God’s supreme holiness. Only the High Priest could approach God in this place and only once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people. Even he had to first make sacrifice for his own sin. If he entered in an unworthy manner, he would be struck dead.
But this all changed on one glorious day as Jesus prepared to give up his life on the Cross. As he shouted the words, “It is finished!” he declared that everything God needed done to offer us the gift of salvation had been successfully completed. At that same moment, the curtain dividing the Holy of Holies was torn open from top to bottom. This could only have been done by God’s hand. This act symbolized that God was breaking down the barrier and we could now enter his presence with confidence and in safety.
This availability was not because God was somehow less holy. His power and majesty remain the same. What changed was our sinfulness that had been the cause of the separation. Through accepting by faith, the grace of God that provided Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for our sin, we now are given the holiness of Christ. There is nothing that stands between us and a holy God.
We humbly approach God in confession and repentance, and he transforms us into a new creation. Then he does something amazing, he moves into our lives through his Holy Spirit. God has not only removed the barriers of sin that kept us from him, but he has also taken up residency in our lives. This allows us to have a continual relationship with our holy and powerful God. We never need to fear his wrath or to feel that he will not accept us. We are his beloved children who can come to him with our praise or cry out to him in our fear at any time. Go ahead, look behind the curtain!