Entering In

Photo Credit: bibleplaces.com

God wants fellowship with us. We want to know Him. But is there protocol for approaching the Most High God?

Yes!

And He doesn't leave us guessing. The Tabernacle is a map to get to God's heart or Presence.

The tabernacle was surrounded by tent panels and posts, and there was one gate....only ONE way to the Father. In repentance turning towards God and His gate, we thus turn our backs on the world and former sinful way of life. We are directed HOW to enter: "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalm 100:4

The first item inside the court of the Tabernacle was the altar of sacrifice. Jesus was the sacrifice, and we can proceed with the Blood of Jesus applied to our hearts. Next was the laver where we wash and see our reflection. The Word of God (Jesus is the Word) washes us, and shows us what is in our hearts. These are referred to in this verse: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;" Psalm 24:3-4a

Proceeding into the Holy Place, we encounter the table of showbread, the lampstand, and the altar of incense. These 3 things all reveal Jesus to us: He is the Bread of life, the Light of the world full of the Oil of the Spirit, and our Intercessor before the Father. Then through the torn veil, again a picture of Jesus and the access He accomplished for us, we approach the Mercy Seat upon the Ark of His Presence, where the Sh'kinah dwells. We can come boldly before the Father IN CHRIST. We see that from gate to torn veil, we enter through Jesus. Thus it is written, that Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)

Here in the secret place, the Holy of Holies, we see God. We know Him. Enter His heart. Hear His Word. And the delightful thing is, He wants to be seen, known, heard, loved...by US! Even as we so long in our hearts, to be seen, known, heard, loved...by HIM.

The Hebrew word Sh'kinah comes from the root shachan, meaning to dwell. This is not a casual, distant, occasional-visit kind of relationship, but a permanent, faithful, covenant-keeping intimate dwelling together. Spirit with Spirit.

Yearning for this? Follow the Tabernacle map!