All Access: How Jesus Restored Our Direct Relationship with God

When God Calls You Higher

Have you ever been about to give up on something, only to have God step in at exactly the right moment? That's what happened to me on Super Bowl Sunday five years ago in Tampa Bay—and it perfectly illustrates what God did for all of humanity through Jesus Christ.

Let me tell you a story about access, restoration, and how God opens doors we never saw coming.

The Super Bowl Surprise

It started as an ordinary Sunday. My wife Charmaine and I were driving to our parents' house when my mentor, a Hall of Fame NFL player, called. "JoMo, do you want to watch the Super Bowl or do you want to go to the Super Bowl?"

That's a different question entirely.

Within minutes, we had tickets. Free tickets. To the Super Bowl. In Tampa. But here's the thing—getting in was just the beginning. Cold feet (literally), parking challenges, and leaving her purse in the car made Charmaine miserable. Just as we were about to leave during the first quarter, my mentor stopped us and asked if Charmaine wanted to see his wife.

That yellow Hall of Fame jacket? Every door opened. Suddenly we weren't just at the Super Bowl—we were in the exclusive Hall of Fame room with free gourmet food, comfort, and yes, I was sitting with Tiger Woods discussing knee surgeries.

We went from good seats on the outside looking in, to being on the inside. And I never asked for it. I didn't qualify for it. But someone who had access gave me access.

That's exactly what Jesus did for us.

From All Access to Access Denied

Let's go back to the beginning. Genesis 3:8 tells us that God walked in the garden "in the cool of the afternoon breeze," and Adam and Eve heard Him coming. They had direct, personal, face-to-face communion with God. That was God's original design—community and communion with His creation.

But then sin entered the picture.

The Great Separation

After Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, everything changed. The Bible says, "They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden... so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God" (Genesis 3:8).

God never left them. They left God.

Have you noticed that when you're not doing right, you don't want to be around God? There's guilt and shame that hits you. Let me help you understand something: none of us are right. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." We're all under construction.

God asked Adam, "Where are you?" Not because God didn't know—He's omniscient. But because Adam needed to realize he was hiding. And when God asked if they ate the fruit, Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. Nobody wanted to take responsibility.

Even in their sin, God covered them. Genesis 3:21 says, "The Lord God made tunics of animal skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them." They tried covering themselves with fig leaves—it wasn't enough. God gave them leather coats. Even in their fallen state, God still covered them.

But there were consequences. God stationed cherubim—four-winged angelic beings—with a flaming sword at the entrance to the Garden. Access was denied.

The Dispensation of Limited Access

We went from all access to no access to limited access. God established a system where priests would mediate between humanity and God. You couldn't just walk up to God anymore. There were rules, protocols, specific times you could come.

The priests would enter the Holy of Holies—but only once a year. And they had to be living right because if a priest wasn't holy when he entered God's presence, he died. They literally tied a rope around the priest's leg with bells on it. If he was in there too long, they'd pull the rope. If the bell didn't jingle, they'd drag him out dead.

Can you imagine? Going into a room knowing that if you're not right with God, you might not come out alive. Thank God for grace and mercy.

The whole Bible can be summed up like this: God wanted communion with humanity. Humanity left that communion. Jesus came to bring us back to communion.

The Veil is Torn

Fast forward to Matthew 27. Jesus is dying on the cross. Verse 50-51 says, "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. At once the veil of the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to bottom."

Let me paint this picture for you. The veil was 60 feet tall and 4 inches thick. Goliath was only 13 feet tall. No human being could tear that veil, especially from top to bottom. This had to be God.

When God ripped that veil, He was saying:

• The old covenant is finished
• The door is broken open
• You now have access to Me

You can come to God without going through a priest because Jesus is the eternal High Priest.

Your Direct Line to the Father

Hebrews 4:16 says it beautifully: "Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy for our failings and find grace to help us in our time of need."

We don't have to talk behind a veil anymore. We can talk face to face. Jesus cleared the way by the blood of His sacrifice. The curtain into God's presence is His body.

Here's the amazing thing: Now that we have Jesus in our place, God no longer sees our sins. He sees Christ's blood. All that you've done is covered in His blood. When God looks at you—if you are saved—He sees Jesus standing in the gap for you, making intercession for you.

The Point of No Return

Back to the Super Bowl story. We were five feet from the escalator—the point of no return. If we went down that escalator, we were leaving. We were about to quit and go home. But then a voice cried out: "JoMo, there's another way."

Sometimes you're about to quit on yourself. About to quit on God. And all of a sudden, God steps into your life at the right moment and opens up a door to a life you never saw or believed possible.

You are one person away. One call away. One decision away from God taking you from where you are to where He wants you to be.

I didn't ask to go to the Super Bowl. I didn't ask to hang out with Tiger Woods. I asked for nothing. But here's what I learned: If you can be faithful where you are, God will elevate you into places you never thought possible.

All Access Available Now

John 10:10 says, "I came to give you life and give you life more abundantly." God has more for you. You don't have to settle for where you are. God is calling you higher.

The Bible says Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Will you let Him in?

If you don't know Jesus, let today be the day you make Him your Lord and Savior. We're all sinners. None of us are perfect. But Romans 10:9 says, "If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus died and rose for you, you shall be saved."

Your Prayer for All Access

If you're ready to accept Jesus and receive your all-access pass to God's presence, pray this prayer:

Father God, I thank You for Your Son Jesus who died for me and rose for me, that I may have life and have it more abundantly. Holy Spirit, come into my life. Guide me, lead me, fill me. Jesus, I surrender my will and my way. I make You Lord of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Discussion Questions:

1. In what areas of your life do you feel separated from God?
2. How does knowing Jesus gave you direct access to God change your prayer life?
3. What "escalator moment" has God interrupted in your life?
4. How can you remain faithful in your current season while believing God for elevation?

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