"Christ Is the Perfect Sacrifice"

   "So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in Heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood - not the blood of goats and calves - he entered the Most Holy Place once and for all time and secured our redemption forever.

 "Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people's bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our conscience from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

 "Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. The will goes into effect only after the person's death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect.

 "That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God's commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God's law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, "This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you." And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:11-22 NLT)

  "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:5-10 KJV)

 As I thought about the things which I hope to do, I recalled all of those other things I planned to do, yet never really accomplished the task it takes to make it happen. Sometimes we really need to make sure that God's will and purposes are in line with all we want to do; especially when it comes to planning a change in our pattern of living or the work we might want to take on. Taking everything before the Lord is the thing we should make ourselves do! If we take everything to God, and when we do our best, then He will take care of the rest...

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek or Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Colossians 3:9-17 KJV)  

"Time of Reformation"

 "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and canal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." (Hebrews 9:10 KJV) 

  "God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God's purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him." (Ephesians 1:9-14 NLT)

 When you look up the word, "Reformation," you will be given the pictures of those who lived during the 16th century, as if those were the days when the religious revolution took place. Yes, there was a mighty work that took place, but the real Reformation was when Jesus died on that cross! There was something that took place, which nobody could explain, because it could only happen by God's hands! 

 What I am talking about is that veil between the two chambers, as the veil was torn from the top to bottom! This is something that God changed in an instant, the moment that Jesus died on that cross, the power of forgiveness came alive, and everything changed, at that very moment! No longer did man need to go through a priest, but the separation had been torn down by the Father, Himself!  

 Yesterday I heard a message about how Jesus died on the cross. Obviously, there are several different ways that people think that He died; some think it was from a ruptured heart, while others think it was from the terrible beating He received, prior to being nailed to the cross. Still, those who executed Him were somewhat amazed that He died so soon, as this type of execution was meant to take some time.

 The basic truth of the matter was spoken of by Jesus, when He spoke about being the Good Shepherd: "The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded." (John 10:17-18 NLT)

 To put it in the simplest terms: "The Jesus said, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last." (Luke 23:46 NLT) So says the doctor...

"We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy." (1 John 1:1-4 NLT)       

"Living Sacrifice"

 "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him the did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;" (Hebrews 9:9 KJV)

  "So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have a taste of the Lord's kindness. You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God." (1 Peter 2:1-5 NLT)

 Now then, according to what has been shown, over and over again, there is nothing we can do in order to obtain salvation, other than receiving that free gift of salvation through Christ Jesus: He paid the price for each and every sin, for each and every person that has ever lived on this earth! There is not only single person that He did not die for, on that cross; so, there is nothing anyone can do, but to receive the free gift that was given, and be eternally grateful! 

 That gratefulness is where being a living sacrifice comes into play! Giving your lives to Christ is not a sacrifice; it is you being thankful for the salvation you have been given; which is your reasonable service, seeing that you have been given new life. There are so many ways that we can serve our King; but we must always keep in mind that reward is not why we serve, but we are given the privilege to serve our Glorious KING! 

 Those who expect something from serving, do not do what they do by offering a sacrifice, but for a reward; when really, being the living sacrifice, actually is the reward! That is what Jesus did when He came to die on that cross; He came as a Servant, to pay the price for our sins, and to set us free from the bondage of our sinful nature! 

 What's more, is we do not need to feel guilty, as those that do not have this salvation. We are totally and completely washed clean before God, the One and Only True Judge; and He sees us perfect because we have been washed in the blood of His Son. If for some reason you don't realize that, is you, and your weighed down by sins which still haunt you; then confess those sins to God and then start doing the opposite of what caused your condition.

 Just a thought; but it is also a solution...

"When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let and part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin, Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace." (Romans 6:10-14 NLT) 

"Amazing Grace"

 "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:" (Hebrews 9:8 KJV)

  "For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us." (Ephesians 2:14-18 NLT)

 Maybe there is some really important reason for this current Administration to be doing what they are doing, as I see it happening, things are being brought back to order, and the fraud, wrong doings, and stupidity are being exposed. Not that it makes much of a difference, because the Rapture is going to happen soon enough, and the real craziness will take over! I will keep praying that the ones I love are not here when that craziness happens!  

 Having said that, I have been praying for our President and asking God to reveal His amazing grace to him, that he would receive the salvation that he doesn't think he deserves! None of us really deserve the salvation we have been given; it is a gift from God, we cannot earn it, nor can claim it to be something we accepted on our own! This is the power of God that makes us new and alive: The Father draws us to His Son, and the Holy Spirit softens our hearts! Without God's love helping and making us surrender, we do not stand a chance. 

 I know that there are some that will not accept that, because that is just the way it is. There really are quite a few people who think that they have earned their salvation, as if it was the choice they made that made it a sacrifice, an offering to God, that their decision to follow the Lord was the payment enough to receive their reward. Please don't believe that you earned anything; you can never ever earn anything that has been freely given.

 Anywho...

"How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. In the same way, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him a righteous because of his faith." The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you." So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith." (Galatians 3:3-9 NLT) 

"Ready Made"

 "But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:" (Hebrews 9:7 KJV)

  "The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (PSALM 19:8-14 NLT)

 I can remember something Pastor Jack said, several years ago, as he was sharing on predestination, and how it is that God knows, but we are clueless; something that is all worked out as God's perfect plan and purposes, for each and every one of those He has chosen. The way Jack explained what that might look like when we arrive at those, Pearly Gates, is that going in we shall see a sign that says, "The Called," which will somewhat make us feel as though we made the right choice, as if we answered the Call. Yet, once we passed in through those Gates, we would see the other side of that sign, which would say, "The Chosen." 

 Not that we don't have a choice, because everyone must choose, when He gives us the right opportunity! It is His calling upon us, at just that right time and in that right setting, when we must make the right choice! However, it might appear, we were somehow prepared for our opportunity, we just didn't know how or why, but we surely realized it, once we accepted His invitation! 

 This second chamber was one that was very sacred and even the high priest needed to cleanse himself, before he would offer blood for the people. It was also shown that he had bells along the bottom of his robe; and a rope tied around his ankle. As he walked around, sprinkling the blood, the bells would ring; if they stopped ringing, then it meant he died, and then they would drag him out with the rope. (At least that is the way I heard the bells and rope were meant for.) 

 Besides this choice we are given, I truly believe that He doesn't give up! At least that is what I see in my own situation. As I said before, I truly believed that God was real, and that God made the heavens and the earth, just as the beginning of the Bible says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) I knew this more than any other Scripture in the Bible, mostly because every time I started reading the Bible, I know where I started, but I seldom ever finished! 

 Several times in my life growing up, I had many chances to make the choice, as I was offered many times, in all sorts of settings and ways of communication. As you might have read, I really did think I needed to practice keeping those 10 Commandments, and I set out at around the age of twelve to make that my goal. When I saw full well it wasn't possible to do, I simply quit trying and basically did what I wanted, no matter the cost. 

 Over the next decade, I had several times when I prayed and called out to God; most of them I still remember. Believe it or not, but there was peace in my heart, each of those times I can remember. It was that last call that got hold of me, the one that made me move towards that call and actually run down to the service. Looking back, I truly believe that was my last call; but then again, I also believe in my heart that He still wouldn't have given up on me! 

 This is more than just something we are called to, and we really must believe that we were chosen! It is not by accident that we were where we happened to be, and the circumstance we were in at the right time! It was just the right place and time, and God made His move...

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT) 

  

"Made Ready" - Too

 "Now when these things were ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God." (Hebrews 9:6 KJV) 

  ""Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, 'Father, save me from this hour'? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name."" Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, "I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again." When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, "The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."" (John 12:27-32 NLT)

 Happiness and joy are really not the same, as most of us should already know. As we see here in this short picture of Jesus expressing His soul being deeply troubled, happiness was really not what He was trying to express; it was more about sadness about what would soon be happening. And yes, Jesus knew everything that would be happening, even the fact that He would have victory over death! 

 This might not seem as though it draws a perfect picture of the 'first tabernacle,' but in this crazy mind of mine, I really feel it will at least cast a small shadow to what it represents. As was explained before, this has the earthly condition, meaning that there is a condition we all have when we are born into this fallen world, a separation from God! 

 How this is something which matters to happiness and joy, really matters to your final outcome. If you truly believe that you are saved and will be going to heaven when this life is over, then joy will always be in your heart! Living though this life, may sometimes steal your happiness, which is something that is bound to happen, now and again; but joy is something that will stay in your heart, as long as you keep believing that you are going to the other side! Nothing can take away your joy...

"As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."" (Luke 10:38-42 NLT)    

"Made Ready"

 "Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God." (Hebrews 9:6 KJV)

  "Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other, But - "When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial to everyone." (Titus 3:3-8 NLT)

 Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas, which is meant to be for good fellowship and times to share with your family and friends. Other than that, we must always remember that Jesus is the reason for the season! As we go into the New Year, many of us will be planning new goals and setting out to make promises to ourselves and others; most of us will most likely fail, as that is usually the case. But the most important things we can plan on, however and whenever you make it to be, is to have your own special time every day to pray and spend time in God's word. Set aside at least 10% of your day to prayer and spending time with God; making that your most important goal, more than anything else! 

 Having been committed to this blog, regardless of how I might feel, I have always been consistent and the only days that were missed were the three days in the hospital. That said, you must be committed and not give up, no matter how you do it or make it your special time with the Lord. I prefer mornings, most of all; as I usually start at 4am by praying for an hour, then I spend about an hour and a half reading and typing this blog. Some mornings don't do much, as far as inspiration; but most morning bring me to tears and I feel that God inspired me to read and declare, whatever He was allowing me to say. 

 Anywho, that is my best reason for setting that goal, because we tend to replace those times we set to be with the Lord with other things; one day leads to two, and then two days leads to three or four; and before you know it, you are hardly spending time with God at all. Your Bible, (if you have one,) is not within reach, and is just sitting somewhere getting dusty. You know what I mean, I have had those times in certain seasons of my walk with the Lord, so I know it is something that happens, from time to time. But, to be totally honest, this thing I do every morning, however it might seem, is keeping me in prayer and opening my Bible every morning; and that has been all these years of staying consistent! 

 With that, I will say the whole reason I think it remains constant is the commitment I have, and the point of being accountable to keep on going. Without that accountability, I probably would have never been able to be consistent; I would have slipped away as more people do from time to time, just trying to deal with life and struggling to keep it together. We must make God our number one priority, and everything else will be less stressful...

"May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires." (2 Peter 1:2-4 NLT)       

"The Mercyseat" - To

 "And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly." (Hebrews 9:5 KJV)

  "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor's rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!" (Isaiah 9:2-7 NLT)

 Imagine you were able to witness the birth of Jesus, knowing full well who He was and why be came to be born on this earth, seeing Him, as a little innocent baby, laying in a manger. Those who had the chance to see Him, had to be totally and completely amazed!

 Well, this is the picture I see from these two cherubim, as they bow their heads, face to face, looking down onto that mercyseat, as an illustration of those Heavenly Hosts, gazing down upon that manger, and witnessing the KING of KINGS and LORD of LORD's, laying in that manger, as a newborn child! Can you imagine what that might have looked like, if you were one of those angels? No wonder they were so excited to celebrate and burst into song; they knew full well what He came for and all that He would be going through; it was all written and recorded for all mankind to know, so I have no doubt that they knew every detail of what would happen. 

 There is something else about this lid, this mercyseat, which covers that ark; the children of Israel were shown God's amazing glory and power, having lived through so many miraculous wonders, some of which many who read about it, don't really believe. This might not be easy to understand, but God placed a lid on the people of Israel, making a way for the Gentiles to be saved. It's not that He stopped loving them, or abandoned them, because He would never do that; but He did make a way for them to see the light, which will be the Light that would be shinning from the Gentiles! 

  Here is the promise given to Abraham, when God said, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." 

 That was the promise for all the world to be saved, which the angels also proclaimed! As well as the prophecy of Simeon, who was told he would see the Messiah before he would die...

 "That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, "Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!" Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby's mother, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul."" (Luke 2:27-35 NLT) 

"The Mercyseat"

 "And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly." (Hebrews 9:5 KJV)

  "Though I am the least deserving of all God's people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rules and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:8-11 NLT)

 About those three articles, spoken of yesterday, that manna which was given 6 days a week, was bread from Heaven, which represented the Word of God, which, as we see in John 1:14, is Jesus Christ, in the flesh. Additionally, truth be told, the Law was given to us in order to show us our sinful nature, as there is none of us that can actually keep every one of those commandments, because we all have a sin nature. And, if memory serves, Aaron's rod was a dead piece of wood; but it brought forth life when it budded leaves, which demonstrated New Life. 

 Not that it is a secret or anything, because these things are very apparent and they actually do represent the completed work of Christ Jesus; which may be the reason God had taken it to Heaven; if that is, the place it is at. This mercy seat, it is really quite mysterious and a little hard to explain. Some have thought it was just a covering for the Ark on the Covenant, and platform for which the cherubim rested, representing the area between these two figures, as God's place of dwelling. 

 Whatever they were for, they demonstrated the holiness of what they looked down upon; as they were placed face to face, and where both looking down to the lid of the Ark. Once a year the mercy seat was sprinkled with blood, "hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory." (Whatever that means?) Regardless, it is very mysterious and has something that speaks of God's great mercy, which, if memory serves, it means that we do not get what we deserve...

"The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west." (PSALM 103:8-12 NLT)  

"Connected With God" - Again

 "Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;" (Hebrews 9:4 KJV)

  "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:6-11 NLT)

 There are certain things we know are very obvious and easy to understand; and yet, even the things we think are understood, are just shadows of what is really not something we can understand at all. Mankind has ventured into all sorts of areas, the deep sea, the vastness of space; even the miracles of life here on earth as we know it; but nothing is fully known, except that there is an amazing Creator! 

 All my life I have believed in God, as far back as I remember; I prayed to Him off and on; when I was very young, I prayed to Him when a ran away from home, and the age of five. I remember praying to him on a mountain top, during a time when I had left home for about six months, at the age of fourteen or so. There really never was I time I remember when I did not believe that God was real; but there were many times when I felt He wasn't there, or close enough to hear me. 

 Here is what I see in this corner, that I have painted myself into: Everything in that Ark, all three of those items that are shown to be in there, are those same three that were presented in the previous, except they have been manifested into a work that was completed on the cross of Christ. Jesus had said this, in more ways than many of us can really understand, but all of it goes back to that one thing He said, "I am the Way the Truth and the Life" 

 Not that I know anything or seem to really understand what I think I can see, but there are three things Jesus illustrated or made to happen, in more ways than one: That He was the bread from heaven, and that unless we eat of Him, we are lost. So that manna which has been saved represents how we are saved, by receiving Christ into our lives. That He came to fulfill the entire Law, which were those tables, or tablets, that had the Ten Commandments, of which He fulfilled! And then, He is the Life, as He gives life to those of us have been saved, making us alive from being dead...

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see." (1 Peter 1:3-5 NLT) 

"Connected With God" - Too

 "Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;" (Hebrews 9:4 KJV)

  "But tell me this - since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God - for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world." (1 Corinthians 15:12-25 NLT)

 Understanding what it means to believe in Christ, is not just about our sins being forgive; although that is what has happened and what Jesus came to die for: but the really big deal in all of this, is that of having been given eternal life, something we look and hope for, because we believe that it will happen! Much like that illustration the Ray shows in his book; someone on the plane is given a parachute and is told that it will make them feel comfortable and secure. Yet, after putting it on, they figure out that it is not all that comfortable, and many of the other passengers are making fun of him because he is wearing it.  

 Well, things are a little different, once you know what that parachute is for; especially if the person that offered it to you, said that the plane was going to crash, and you would be saved if you used it! No matter how uncomfortable it might seem to be, you're not taking it off! And no matter how many people laugh at you, you're not going to feel ashamed to be wearing it! 

 What is it that I am trying to say? All of these things that are being shown in this second part of the sanctuary are all references to the eternal life we have in Christ! The curtain itself is also a symbol of the passage, from death to life, as there is a vast distinction between the two areas: one is the connection with this earthly life, the other is the connection to eternal life; as it all a connection to God, which is all about our transformation to Heaven! 

 By the way, there has been a lot of talk about what happened to that Ark of the Covenant, some think that God took it and placed it in the Temple that is in Heaven. We will just have to wait and see...

"But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back." (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NLT) 

  

"Connected With God"

 "Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had mana, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;" (Hebrews 9:4 KJV)

  "Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. And after that had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: "The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, 'Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes - so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it."" (Acts 28:24-29 NLT)

 As much as I would like to fully understand all of the things that I should know by now, there is just no way for them to be completely understood, no matter how hard I try. If I think I have something figured out, the 'Swirling Eddey's' kick in, and I find myself more confused than I was before. Therefore, I must not try to go beyond simple! 

 This passage that Paul was sharing from Isaiah, however complex it might have seemed to be for those who listened, the simple thing they needed, was the need to be healed! Those that do not think they need to be saved, whether it because they do want to, or they don't believe it is real, they must be able to see and understand the reason that they need the salvation that God is offering them. 

 Not everyone that accepts God's free gift will fully comprehend what it is for and why were even given it, mostly because they either thought it would make their lives better, they would feel better, or that they would actually not sin anymore. In Ray's book, "Hell's Best Kept Secret," he illustrated the ways many people don't really know the reason they need to be saved, therefore the trials and torment that they might experience, causes them to fall away, not believing it is real or had badly they needed it.

 Some things we think are happening to us, because God is judging us, are just the things He wants to teach us, instruct in us, and be able to allow ourselves to trust Him more; and it is only by us being able to believe that He really loves us, even in our hurt and difficulties, that we know He never ever stops loving us! We were saved so that we could be connected with God, and He wants us to need Him...

""And judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All how do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."" (John 3:19-21 NLT) 

"The Separation"

"And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;" (Hebrews 9:3 KJV)

"Then God said, "Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth." And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the heavens. God called the space "sky." And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day." (Genesis 1:6-8 NLT)

 As I have said, several times, this is the second day in which God did not say it was good. The King James Version of this Scripture has Heaven shown with a capital, "H," making reference to the holiness of what is being said, as if this was not a place where mankind could go, but where God dwells. Jesus made reference to this, telling Nicodemus, "No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven." (John 3:13 NLT) 

 Hopefully this makes sense to someone, because I just don't know any other way to explain why God would not say that day was good, except for the separation between Heaven and earth. Basically, what this means is that God knew in advance that man would sin, which is why God made the separation in the first place. As the Bible clearly say, "For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with you." (Psalms 5:4 KJV) 

 Anyhow, this is why Jesus came, to bridge that gap between us and our Heavenly Father! And it was something that was planned, even before the beginning of creation. If you don't believe me, look it up...

""And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only So, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgement against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son."" (John 3:14-18 NLT) 

"The Sanctuary" - To

"For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary." (Hebrews 9:2 KJV)

  "Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?" John told them, "I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal."" (John 1:24-27 NLT)

 Well, this is deep! The tabernacle that was made, basically had these two special rooms, this one we are talking about today, which is being shown to have these three articles, "the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread," are the complete reference to Christ's mission, as He had shown unto Thomas: "I and the way and the truth and the life." 

 Much like anything else, (actually, much like everything else,) there are three elements that made the object or being complete. In this instance these three articles complete the mission and reason for the Gospel of Christ's work here on this earth, as the sanctuary is depiction of earth, which basically means, this life here that you and I must live in, as well as be saved in!  

 As I see it, (or have been shown), the Way can only be shown by the Light, as Jusus is the Light that shines in the darkness, to actually show us the way! The Truth, which is stationary and on which all things remain, is that Table; or if you are inclined to say, The Foundation! The Life is the easy one, because Jesus is the Bread of Life! 

 To be totally honest, I never really saw that yesterday, and I wasn't about to try and explain what I did not know. This morning as I was making my bed, (which I always do, right after I step out of it,) God just clearly showed me that which I did not know.

 Crazy as that might seem, there are some people that think cows have 6 stomachs; which is rather hard to explain, why that might be necessary. But, in reality they have really only one; but one has three other compartments that complete the one. So there you go; chew on that for a bit...

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.' I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water, so that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John testified, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God."" (John 29-34 NLT) 

"The Sanctuary"

 "For there was a tabernacle made; the first wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary." (Hebrews 9:2 KJV)

  ""Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and also trust in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going." "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have see him."" (John 14:1-7 NLT)

 If there was just a way to connect the dots, I might have something more to speak about; but as it is, my head is foggy, and my ears won't stop ringing! I just don't what to say: Except for the connection between the articles shown in the "Sanctuary" and what Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Maybe I need to chew on this for a bit, and something will come up!

 Do you know how and why a cow chews its food so long, over and over? Maybe it just wants to satisfy every stomach...

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." (Colossians 1:11-14 NLT)