Someone Else's Foot in the Door

Ephesians 2:18  "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

I recently watched a television program in which an ambitious teenage boy determined to impress an older businessman.  The youngster was certain that once his abilities and enthusiasm had been put on display, the natural response would be for the successful entrepreneur to find a place where those talents could be fully utilized (and rewarded).  It turned out, however, that the boy never had the opportunity to "show his stuff" because he could not procure even a brief hearing with the businessman. 
     As luck would have it, a dejected youth being "excused" from the reception area of the business which he had hoped to become a part of, crossed paths with a female acquaintance from his high school in the outside hallway.  Two important things were revealed in a conversation that changed the young man's fortunes.  The first was that the young lady had a bit of a crush on the boy, and the second was that her father ran the company that the boy was currently leaving.
     So, the boy ended up back inside the building, and he immediately bypassed the secretary who had sent him away.  Then he sat in a chair next to his school friend while she talked about his positive qualities.  She saw great potential in the young man, and as she continued to sing his praises, her father listened attentively.  Soon, the realization became clear: if the young man was so important to his daughter, he was also important to the father.  So, he became a part of the team.
     This story is the kind of story that all of us have believed to be true throughout our lives.  When we had a crush on a school girl, we talked to their best friend; when we were looking for a job, we cited references that the boss would respect; and when we needed admission to a certain college, we lobbied a celebrated alum.  The value of someone important sticking their foot in a door that we want to walk through has never escaped our notice.
     This is entirely consistent with what I believe in my Christian faith.  It is perhaps the thing that makes the most sense about Jesus coming to earth in my mind.  It is the idea of God's only begotten son coming down and hanging out with me at school, and it is also the idea of him liking what he sees in me.  And it culminates in the idea of Jesus taking me into his Father's office (an office I couldn't get into on my own) and blowing my horn for me.  The Father sits in his big chair and sees the value that I have to his son, and because of that, he also applies value to me.
     No matter what your religious beliefs are, I know that we all would like to talk to God directly.  I believe that God also wants to have that kind of a relationship with us.  The problem, however, is that we really don't have a very good idea of how to do it.  But if we have a savior who is the Son of God, and who walked with us in our shoes, and who puts his foot through the door to give us instant access to the Father, and then sits there with us and talks about how valuable we are to him...then talking to God suddenly ceases to be terrifying and confusing; and because of what Jesus did, it becomes delightful.
     I like the idea of not having to be the first through any door that has a powerful being on the other side; and I like the idea of not having to ever sit alone in that powerful being's presence while trying to make myself appear valuable.  The truth is, I never have to.  Jesus did it for me.  Now, when I go into the presence of a holy, mighty God, I go there confident that I am valuable to Him because I am valuable to His son.