Torn Veils

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Presence Was Separated from Humanity by Sin

From the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed in the garden, humanity experienced a painful separation from God’s presence. God’s original desire was to walk and talk with His creation, but sin created a barrier that could not be crossed by human effort. Throughout the Old Testament, this separation is seen in the stories of the patriarchs, the tabernacle, and the veil that kept people from entering the Most Holy Place. Yet, even in the midst of this distance, God was setting a plan in motion to restore relationship with His people. [07:40]

Genesis 3:8-9 (ESV)
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself hiding from God’s presence or keeping Him at a distance? What is one step you can take today to draw closer to Him, even if it feels uncomfortable?

Day 2: The Veil in the Tabernacle Symbolized Separation

God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle with a veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, making it clear that sin kept people from direct access to His glory. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. This physical barrier was a constant reminder that humanity could not freely enter God’s presence, and that a greater solution was needed for true reconciliation. [09:55]

Exodus 27:31-35 (ESV)
“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table. And you shall put the table on the north side.”

Reflection: Is there a “veil” in your life—an area or habit—that keeps you from experiencing God’s presence fully? What would it look like to bring that area honestly before God today?

Day 3: Jesus Tore the Veil and Opened the Way

At the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom, signifying that the separation between God and humanity was forever removed. Jesus, as the perfect sacrifice and our High Priest, made it possible for everyone to enter into God’s presence without fear or barrier. This act was not just symbolic, but a real invitation for all to come boldly before God, to experience His love, mercy, and glory as never before. [17:51]

Matthew 27:50-51 (ESV)
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus has removed every barrier between you and God change the way you approach Him in prayer and worship today?

Day 4: We Now Have Bold Access to God’s Presence

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are invited to come boldly before the throne of grace, not as outsiders but as beloved children. We no longer need to hide or be afraid; instead, we can bring our needs, our pain, and our worship directly to God. This access is not based on our worthiness, but on Jesus’ finished work, and it is available at every moment, in every circumstance. [22:54]

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Reflection: What is one specific need or burden you are carrying right now? Will you take a moment to boldly bring it before God, trusting that He welcomes you into His presence?

Day 5: Remove the Veil from Your Heart and Live Unveiled

Now, through the Spirit, we are called to live with unveiled faces, beholding God’s glory and being transformed by it. The invitation is to remove anything that separates us from God—doubt, fear, shame, or old ways of thinking—and to step fully into the freedom and transformation He offers. As we do, we not only experience His presence for ourselves, but become living testimonies of His grace to those still living in separation. [21:00]

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (ESV)
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to remove the “veil” and trust Him more deeply? How can you respond to that invitation today?

Sermon Summary

God is not finished working in our lives, and His faithfulness remains unchanged throughout every season. From the very beginning, God’s desire was to walk in close relationship with humanity, as He did with Adam and Eve in the garden. But sin brought separation—a veil between Creator and creation. Throughout the Old Testament, this separation was symbolized by the physical veil in the tabernacle, which kept God’s presence apart from the people. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. Even Moses, after encountering God’s glory, had to veil his face because the people were afraid to draw near.

Yet, God’s plan was always to restore intimacy. The story of Israel is one of longing, failure, and hope—a people repeatedly separated from God, yet always pursued by Him. The silence at the end of the Old Testament was broken by the coming of Jesus, God Himself robed in flesh, who experienced our humanity and became the perfect sacrifice. At the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. This was not a human act, but a divine declaration: the barrier is gone, and access to God’s presence is now open to all.

Now, through Jesus, we are invited to come boldly before the throne of grace. The old covenant, with its limitations and rituals, has been fulfilled and surpassed by the new covenant of the Spirit. We are no longer kept at a distance; we are called to live unveiled, transformed by God’s glory from one degree to another. Yet, even with this open invitation, we often choose to remain outside, separated by our own fears, doubts, or comfort. God’s desire is for us to draw near, to step into His presence, and to experience the peace, joy, and freedom that come from living close to Him.

There is a world still living in separation, veiled from the truth of God’s love. We are called not only to enter in ourselves but to pray for those who have yet to see, that their eyes would be opened and the veil removed. The way is open—let us draw near, and let us intercede for others to do the same.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Desire Is Intimacy, Not Separation From the beginning, God’s heart was to walk closely with humanity, but sin created a barrier. The story of Scripture is God’s relentless pursuit to remove that separation and restore relationship. Even when we feel distant, God’s desire is always to draw us near, not to keep us at arm’s length. [05:40]
2. The Veil Is Torn—Access Is Now Open Jesus’ sacrifice did what centuries of ritual could not: it tore the veil, ending the separation between God and humanity. This was a divine act, not a human achievement, and it means we can approach God freely, without fear or shame. The invitation is to come boldly, knowing the way is open for all who believe. [17:51]
3. We Often Choose Distance Over Closeness Despite the open access, we sometimes retreat from God’s presence—out of fear, comfort, or uncertainty. Like Israel, we may prefer the familiar distance rather than the transforming closeness God offers. True spiritual growth comes when we step past our self-imposed barriers and embrace the fullness of God’s presence. [25:16]
4. Transformation Comes With Unveiled Faces Living unveiled means allowing God’s glory to change us, moving from one degree of glory to another. This transformation is not just for our benefit, but so that others might see and be drawn to God. We are called to reflect His presence, not hide it, and to pray for those still living behind the veil.

** [21:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - God’s Unchanging Faithfulness
[01:21] - Introduction and Prayer
[03:07] - The Meaning of Veils
[05:09] - Separation Since the Fall
[07:26] - God’s Plan Through Abraham
[08:36] - The Tabernacle and the Veil
[12:17] - Moses’ Encounter With God’s Glory
[13:34] - Israel’s Fear and Self-Separation
[15:37] - 400 Years of Silence
[16:32] - Jesus: God’s Solution
[17:51] - The Veil Is Torn
[19:22] - The New Covenant’s Greater Glory
[22:15] - Boldly Approaching the Throne
[24:07] - Entering the Holy Place
[25:16] - Drawing Near and Removing Barriers
[26:22] - Living in God’s Presence
[27:41] - Invitation to Pray and Respond
[28:17] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Exodus 26:31-34 (ESV) — > “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.”

Matthew 27:50-51 (ESV) — > “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.”

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (ESV) — > “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Observation Questions

According to Exodus 26, what was the purpose of the veil in the tabernacle, and who was allowed to go beyond it? [09:27]
In Matthew 27, what happened to the temple veil at the moment of Jesus’ death, and what is significant about how it was torn? [17:51]
In 2 Corinthians 3, what does Paul say happens when someone “turns to the Lord”? [21:00]
The sermon described how even Moses had to veil his face after encountering God’s glory. What was the people’s reaction to seeing God’s glory reflected in Moses? [13:09]

Interpretation Questions

What does the tearing of the temple veil at Jesus’ death symbolize about our relationship with God now compared to before? [17:51]
The sermon mentioned that God’s desire from the beginning was to walk closely with humanity. How does the story of the veil show both God’s holiness and His longing for intimacy with us? [05:40]
According to 2 Corinthians 3, what does it mean to live with an “unveiled face,” and how is this different from the experience of the Israelites in the Old Testament? [21:00]
The sermon pointed out that sometimes we choose to stay at a distance from God, even though the way is open. Why might people do this, and what are some of the “veils” we put up today? [25:16]

Application Questions

The sermon said, “So many times, whether intentional or unintentional, we begin to take some steps back and say, whoa, maybe things are getting a little scary for my calling and I’m not sure how God’s going to do that. So I’m just going to take a step back and say, that’s not for me.” ([25:16]) Can you think of a time when you stepped back from God’s presence or calling out of fear or uncertainty? What would it look like to step forward instead?
Now that the veil is torn, we have “open access” to God’s presence. What is one area of your life where you need to come boldly before God’s throne this week? ([22:15])
The sermon described how God’s presence brings peace, joy, and freedom. Is there a specific situation where you need to experience one of these? What would it look like to intentionally seek God’s presence in that area? ([26:22])
The message challenged us to pray for those who are still “veiled” and separated from God. Who is one person in your life you can pray for this week, asking God to remove the veil from their heart? ([27:06])
The Israelites were afraid to draw near to God’s glory and asked Moses to go instead. Are there ways you rely on others (pastors, leaders, family) to experience God for you, instead of seeking Him yourself? How can you take a step toward personal intimacy with God? ([13:09])
The sermon said, “If you get close to God, he will get close to you. If you separate yourself from God, then guess what? He separated from you. You put that veil there.” ([24:40]) What are some practical “veils” (habits, attitudes, distractions) that keep you from God’s presence? What is one you want to remove this week?
The message ended with an invitation to respond to God’s open presence. What is one way you can make space in your daily routine to intentionally draw near to God and live “unveiled”? ([27:41])

Sermon Clips

So this is God's plan. He comes to earth as a human, as a baby, and he experiences your everyday life. He experiences exactly what we go through today. And he dies for our sins and his blood is poured out for us. And the moment that he gives up the ghost, the Bible says, the moment that he yields his spirit, he dies. This separation, the physical is ripped from top to bottom. It wasn't anything that this earth did. It wasn't one big person going and ripping it from the middle or from the bottom. No, it was God himself saying separation is over. [00:17:36] (43 seconds) #GodBecomesHuman

Now the Lord is the spirit. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of God, are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another. From glory to glory, the KJV says, for this comes from the Lord, who is that spirit. [00:20:58] (20 seconds) #SpiritOfLiberty

We're in this new covenant. Jesus fulfilled the law, and we're in this new covenant. And there's so much glory to be had. There's such an open door, an access into God's presence. And so now, when we read that old testament, we see it unveiled. And that is what God is asking today, and we're all in here saved, but to those out there who are not, this is what God is asking. Are you going to read this word with an unveiled face? Are you going to remove that separation between me and you, and are you going to step in? [00:21:23] (37 seconds) #OpenAccessToGod

We have this open access. Once again, Hebrews, we're talking about it again. We have this, this, this road, this open road, right into God's presence. And so many times we choose not to go in. We choose, I'm going to stay out here. I'm, I'm, I'm separating myself from, from this. I don't want to go into this. When God has opened that door, and it's free access to anybody who wants it, and we can come boldly before the throne of grace. Whenever we need, whatever we need, we can come boldly before his throne. [00:22:35] (35 seconds) #BoldBeforeTheThrone

``Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places, we can enter in. We can enter in by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is through his flesh. And since we have a great priest over the house of God, Jesus is our high priest. He made the way. It's through him that we can enter in. It's through his name that we can enter in. So Jesus tore the veil. Now what will you do? [00:24:09] (30 seconds) #DrawNighToGod

God intended you to be close. God intended you to be in the throne room. God intended for you to be in that veil, not separated by a wall, not separated by a veil over your face. You're choosing not to see the truth, but he wants you close. He wants you to know exactly who he is and what he has for you. [00:25:42] (19 seconds) #RunToTheThrone

Now I have perfect peace. Now I can run into the throne room when I'm in trouble and I can say, God, I need peace. And it's right there. Now I have joy unspeakable, joy that I cannot even put into words, that when I'm in need and when I feel down or when depression comes my way, I can say, no, no, I'm going to get into the presence of God and I'm going to find that joy unspeakable and full of glory. [00:26:02] (29 seconds) #PrayForTheVeiled

I can run into the throne room and I can run boldly before the throne of grace and I can bring my needs and I can bring myself and say, God, here it is. Do with it what you will and he'll answer your prayers. I'm so thankful for Jesus's sacrifice. We are now able to enter in and we can run into the throne of grace. [00:26:30] (23 seconds)

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