What’s
Inside Your Tabernacle?
We’ve
given you some details as to what was in the tabernacle in the Old Testament.
Now we want to shift our focus to your every day life as a born again
believer.
What’s
in your tabernacle?
It’s
easy to look at someone’s outer appearance and think, “Wow.
This person really has it together.
He always smiles, is always pleasant, always looks nice, owns a fabulous
home and automobile. She is always in church, answers most of the questions in
bible study and the way she prays, oh Wow!
Surely, this person is on their way to heaven.”
Many
people have this type of thinking. It’s
easy to impress or be impressed by others.
Studies show that people spend billions of dollars every year on keeping
up the outward appearance of their bodies.
Christians do the same; they look good, smell good, carry their bible,
sing, dance, wave their hands in appearance of worship and quote scriptures.
However, God is not fooled or impressed by outward appearances.
He sees and judges us according to our heart [1Samuel 16:7].
In Mathew 23:27-28, Jesus is speaking about this exact issue.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear
beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all
uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Think
about this. A coffin is elaborately decorated and the headstone is a work of
art. The gravesite is neat, and the
lawn perfectly manicured. What a
sight to behold! Remember, however,
that they house dead, rotten, decaying, foul smelling flesh – dead people.
Jesus
compared that to the Pharisees. They
looked the part, but they were spiritually dead. Their outward appearance and title gave the impression that
they were in right standing with God. However,
Jesus could see through the exterior and properly assessed their condition –
hypocrisy! They were teaching one
thing, but living another. Does
that sound like anyone you know?
So
many in the church today are the same way.
They want a title – preacher, pastor, teacher, evangelist, deacon,
usher, worship leader, etc. They
spend plenty of money buying bibles, robes, and other exterior paraphernalia.
However, their lifestyle does not line up with the Word of God.
They act more ungodly than those who do not profess Christ.
They are abusive, bitter, carnal, have hatred, envy and strife in their
hearts. Some of them are not even
truly born again. They want to look
the part to impress others, but they do not want to live the lifestyle that God
requires of a Christian.
What’s
in your tabernacle?
Are you more interested in looking the part than living it? Do you act one way at church and then a totally different way when you go home? Do you serve in the church and then go home and abuse your family? Do your coworkers see the same person that the church sees every week? Would your neighbors believe that you are a Christian?
What’s
in your tabernacle?
Are you full of dead issues? Unforgiveness? Are there people whom you feel have hurt you that you have not forgiven? Have you intentionally hurt others, and not asked them to forgive you? What about those habits in your life that you think are small and insignificant? Like the way you secretly wish another person harm. Or, like the fact that you are jealous and envious of your peer? What about your gossip, lying, and malice? Is there fear in your life? Are you covetous and greedy? Are you lazy? Are you a dishonest person? Maybe you are full of pride – you think that there is no one greater than you. Do you obey God’s voice? Do you pray and study your Word regularly?
All unrighteousness is sin. Sin in your life needs to be confessed and repented of as 1 John 1:9 tells us. If all of these things are in you there is no room for the love of God to be in you. We are to be full of good works. We are to show forth the fruit of the Spirit. We are to show forth God’s love.
What’s in your tabernacle?
Take time to examine yourself today and spend some time cleaning your tabernacle. Do not try to sweep any issues under the carpet. Do not hide anything in the back of your closet. Do not place any issues in your chest and hide it under your bed. Ask the Lord to shine the spotlight of His Word into every corner of your tabernacle that is not pleasing to Him. He will give you the grace you need to go through the cleansing process. This process is not easy. It will be uncomfortable and maybe even painful, but it is necessary. God requires it.
Now we know that we need to inspect what is in our tabernacle. In our next edition of “Inside the Tabernacle” we will discuss what should be in our tabernacle. Until then, may God bless you; grant you grace, peace and strength for the work he has ordained for you to accomplish.
For further study on the topic, read Mark 7:18-23.
Peace and blessings be unto you
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