First, our elevator at Parkwood Church has been acting up again, and is presently out of service. Second, Canada Post has raised the cost of mailing ordinary letters for delivery in Canada from 48 cents to 49 cents.

How are these related? Both affect our access to services.

In the case of our broken elevator, those who find stairs difficult or impossible and who arrive expecting to be able to access our lower hall are disappointed. In the case of the increase in postage rates, those who for convenience had a quantity of 48 cent stamps on hand now find that they must go to the post office outlet and purchase a matching quantity of 1 cent stamps before they can drop letters in the postbox.

These may be major or minor inconviences, depending on an individual's circumstances, yet they represent a "denial of access" to important services.

Yet people also struggle with access on a spiritual level. Here, though, instead of bad news, the Bible has good news!

Paul, writing about the wonderful work of Jesus in reconciling both Jews and Gentiles to God, says: " For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." (Ephesians 2: 18, NIV) For those from whatever background who have put their trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, there is now, by the agency of the Holy Spirit, direct access to God. When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, and the way to God opened. That curtain symbolised the separation between the place where God dwelt in His holiness, and the place where His people -- even the best of them -- lived, "on the other side". No more is this separation necessary. Jesus has opened the way for us, giving us access to the Father.

Let us remember that even if the post office refuses our mail for lack of an extra stamp, God receives our prayers offered in the name of Jesus. His name is altogether sufficient!

Yet there is more. Our access is not limited to God receiving our prayers. Paul writes to the Romans and describes our access into God's grace:

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5: 1-5, NIV)

Though Christians face hardships, and sufferings, we have access by our faith in Jesus Christ to the grace of God. Grace is "unmerited favour". Put another way, it is help we don't deserve.

May we be encouraged to know that God has fresh and new grace for His children each and every morning. May that grace surprise you -- and may we be surprised one day to find that our elevator works, too!

In Christ, thankful for free and unimpeded access to God,

Your pastor,

James T. Hurd.