Entering the Holy Place: He Is the Light of the World
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe
Remembering that the Tabernacle is a picture of Jesus
Christ and our relationship with Him, we must
understand that we can be saved and remain in the outer court. The outer
court is good, but God has something even greater for us—intimacy with Him and
other believers in the Holy Place, the front room of the Tabernacle.
In the Old Testament economy, only the priests, all of whom
were born into the tribe of Levi, could enter into the Tabernacle. Today, if we are born again in Jesus, we can
enter into that intimate relationship with God that He has pictured in the
Tabernacle. Because in Jesus, believers
are all priests.
Three articles of furniture stood in the Holy Place, the
menorah, the table of show bread and the altar of incense.
The menorah was a lampstand. A study of the menorah reveals much about our
Savior. It was crafted of beaten gold
depicting His suffering in the courts of the religious leaders, at the hands of
the Romans and on the cross. It was
comprised of seven branches to hold seven oil lamps. Seven is the number of completion, of
perfection, of God. The oil represents the Holy Spirit. It was only in the light of the menorah that
the priests could minister in the Holy Place.
During the Feast of
Tabernacles, Jesus taught in the outer court of the Temple.
John 8:12: "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I
am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but
have the light of life.''
He is our menorah, our lampstand. We can truly minister
only in His light. The Word of God has much to say about our walking in that
light:
Matthew 5:13-15:
Jesus spoke of His followers saying: “You are the salt of the earth; but
if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for
nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light
of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light
a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all
who are in the house.”
Matthew 5:16.: He has commissioned us: "Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
1 John 1:4-5: “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
We must enter at the gate, come through the courtyard and
into the Holy Place in order to bask in His light, to be empowered by His
Spirit and to enjoy a richer fellowship with Him. It is a progression, a Holy
Highway. On that Highway, we find our joy.
Take your harp from the willow tree, put on your marching shoes,
ctrl/click the following link and join the holy marching band.
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