People are known to have meeting points where one would go for purposes of recreation or a place to retire and find succor from life's pressures. For many a meeting point could be like a beer parlor, club or pepper soup joint; it could even be an addiction like drugs or pornography; it could turn out that to be the company of trusted people like spouses or pastors. Whatever it may be, it seems obvious that men seek either people, a physical location or something they can always go to unwind or reflect
God needed the Jewish community to have a meeting point where they could come fellowship with Him so He gave Moses the architectural design of the tabernacle and amoung the first things to be crafted was what it seemed God considered to be the most important; that is the Lid of the Ark of Agreement also known as THE MERCY SEAT. By design, it is a symbol of the very throne of God (see Hebrews 9:24); God tells Moses "above this seat I will meet with you" (see Exodus 25:17-22). Friends, allow me the honour to welcome you to 'The Meeting Point'...

A Place of Redemption (Lev. 16:15-17, Heb.10: 11-12)
Life is full of disappointment and frustration, and every now and then we need a meeting point where we can be assured of rest, comfort and help. As noble as it may sound to have a faithful pastor or friend to be that meeting point, God's intention is that we make fellowship at His throne our meeting point.

To us Christians, the Mercy Seat has several significance, first of which is a place of redemption. God's instructed Aaron to sacrifice and sprinkle the blood of the animal on the Mercy Seat, which is intended to bring about the needed cleansing but it became an annual event because the blood sacrifice used wasn't perfect to cleanse the sins of men forever. So Israel had to wait on a High priest to make sacrifice for them every once a year until Jesus came as a better high priest; who through his own death and resurrection, sprinkled His own blood on the throne of God for us all thereby fulfilling our redemption from sin and eternal death.

Our Journey with God started at the Mercy Seat; it was there the blood sacrifice of Jesus confirmed us as sons of God. That is why God takes it seriously that we make a practice of approaching His throne.

A Place of Worship (Rev.4: 9-11; 7:9-10)
In heaven the throne room is the centre of attraction and guess what goes on there? Worship! It is more than what we know it because like some of us, I often wonder how boring heaven must be if all I did were worship Him through all eternity. But if you've ever had an experience in the Holy Spirit and you get so full of Him, you'll get to sing and dance 'in the Spirit', you'll discover that stopping is not a willing option you will take. Peter describes it as Joy unspeakable, full of glory (1 Peter 1:8). Are life's trials getting to you and you're tempted to worry? Retire to the Mercy Seat and lift your hands in absolute abandon and worship Him; it is your place of refreshing.

A Place of Instruction (Exd.25: 22)
Most Christians do not meet with God first when trouble arises. Apostle James tells us that if anyone is in trouble, let him pray (James 5:13). He was pointing us to the Mercy Seat and my, I've always had cause to obey that instruction in the past, and I still do.

Let Him be the first to hear your story, tell Him how hurt you are and how confused you are; beyond that, expect Him to comfort and instruct you. One of our benefits of our communion with God is instruction and direction; it is the wisdom of God concerning the situation we may be going through then. The preacher tells us to come to the Mercy Seat prepared to listen than to give the sacrifice of fools (ref. Eccl. 5: 1-2). You may have come to the Mercy seat with the world's ideas on how to go about issues, but with the benefit of instruction, you're sure to leave with God's ways.

A Place of Mercy (Heb 4:16)
This is one issue several Christians do not take advantage of concerning God's beckoning for us to come fellowship before His throne. The best expression God could give Moses in building the core article in the tabernacle was the adjective: MERCY. Why did He symbolize His very throne as the Mercy Seat? Amoung other reasons, It is because He wants to be considered as a merciful and loving God.
When we are overtaken with sin, come before Him and obtain mercy, not judgment but mercy. One reason why some will be judged is because they did not take advantage of God's overflowing, rich mercy. You can never be too much a sinner than God is willing to forgive; as a child of God, mercy is your right, so seize and enjoy it.
There simply is no use beating yourself in guilt and regret; the forgiveness and help you need to live above sin is at the Mercy Seat - it is the only divinely appointed meeting point especially when you've messed up.

Free Access (Heb 10:19 - 22)
In God's presence amazing things do happen; before miracles are experienced in our daily walk, they usually happen at the Mercy Seat first, it is where we know the end from the beginning.
In the past only the high priest dare approach that seat and it had to be once in a year until through His death and resurrection on the cross, paved for us an unhindered access to is throne of Mercy to worship, receive wisdom and mercy. Knowing that when life hits you hard, our meeting point and first port of call will always remain: THE MERCY SEAT.