Growing in Grace – Post # 5
Our goal in life, our purpose, even if you are not completely aware of it yet, is to learn how to enter into the presence of the Lord. This is why God continues to call to our hearts. Not to just be in His presence but be transformed (changed, converted, renewed) by His presence. Why? So we can learn to live in His presence. So that, having been transformed, we can think, speak and act in ways that please Him. The encounter of His presence imprints His image on our heart, transforms us to His image and empowers us to walk with attitudes, actions and words that please Him.
This personal encounter with God’s glory is critical to our becoming like Christ. For in these times, and through the ministry aids He has provided us, we have sin exposed so we may confess it; we receive encouragement to persevere; we have misplaced values revealed; we receive commission to serve; we have bad attitudes spotlighted; we learn to recognize the Master’s voice.
The psalmist, King David, said it best, “In your presence is fullness of joy and at your right hand are pleasures forever.” (Psalm 16:11). This is the experience and fulfillment that our inner man longs for and for which we were created.
Our guide on this journey to encounter God’s presence will be the worship pattern God set forth in the Tabernacle. After having brought His people out of Egyptian bondage and in preparation for the Jews to really be His people, God established the manner and provided the means for the children of Israel to have representation in God’s presence. He did this through the Levitical priesthood and the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The various stations of service established in the Tabernacle all speak of elements and benefits that should be, must be, included in our entry into the presence of the Father.
We will be learning some important information about the pattern of worship the priests had to go through in order to reach the ultimate goal: the Holy of Holies, the place where God’s glory dwelt. One day a year, one man only, after meticulously following God’s prescribed order, entered into the Holy of Holies as a representative of the nation.
It is obvious how blessed we are in Christ, because of Christ. Before Christ, the glory of God’s presence was shut away from the people. They were separated from it by design teaching them that man was sinful and could not have free access to this great glory. Yet now, because of Jesus, because of who we are in Him, this awesome Holy Presence is ours to encounter, experience, enjoy. It is even ours to neglect, take for granted or take lightly.
The answer to the ages old questions, “Why am I here?” and “What is my purpose in life?” is answered only as we, with fear and trembling, with joyous expectation, with longing and love enter into the glory of our God’s presence.
My prayer for you is that we will grasp the privilege and power we have in encountering God’s glorious presence.
We will be walking through the stations of the tabernacle over several weeks. We will see what they represent to us so we can enrich our times of refreshing with the Father. We may spend several sessions at one station. We may backtrack if the Lord directs. Our goal is to learn to make use of the means given to us to know Him.
For now let me lay out these elements in the order in which they were encountered in the tabernacle:
The Gate
The Brazen Altar (also known as the altar of sacrifice)
The Laver
The Altar of Incense
The Lamp stand
The Table of Shew Bread
The Ark of the Covenant
I Peter 2:9-10.
God bless you all today. Grow in grace and walk in love!
Further Up and Further In 