Intimacy with Christ

Unfortunately, I just finished the final day of the Beth Moore, Tabernacle study. It was bittersweet! While I am glad to have completed a task, I will miss my time in the tabernacle! That being said, tonight. . .this is the part that stuck with me.

When you study the tabernacle, you learn that there is the outer court (Altar of Sacrifice, Laver), then you move to the Holy Place (Table of Shewbread, Lampstand, and Altar of Incense just before entering the Holy of Holies), and then to the innermost place of intimacy with God, the place where He displays His glory, where we fall to our face in awe, The Holy of Holies (ark of the covenant, ark of testimony). It's interesting when you think about it that the altar of Sacrifice (which Christ is for us) is at the "beginning" of the tabernacle in the outer court. You have to "accept the sacrifice" before you can enter further. So, it makes sense that it would be just as you enter. However, it also "assumes" that salvation (acceptance of the sacrifice) is JUST the beginning. There is so much more! How intimate do you want to be with your God?

 

You might ask how do experience Christ deeply in the intermost sanctuary. . .

       This is how Beth Moore's study put it tonight

• "Be unafraid to let Him display the power of the resurrection before your eyes"
• "Shake off the grave clothes of former lives and enjoy freedom of the resurrection"
• "Do not be satisfied with this world and things in it"
• "Be willing to be stripped of ALL earthly perspective & allow your mind to be renewed"
• "Be willing to fellowship in His suffering"

"We can live our lives on the outer perimeters of our salvation, in Christ but not with Christ, or we can accept the challenge to enter and behold His glory." (Beth Moore, A Woman's Heart Study Guide, p.218)

Do you want to KNOW Him or are you satisfied with the outer court? If you are of the former thought, be excited by this scripture:

Revelation 21:3-5 (NASB) - "And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.' And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' And He said, 'Write, for these words are faithful and true.'"