God's Purpose for our Lives - A lesson from the tabernacle of Moses

The Good News from God is remarkably wonderful, so wonderful indeed that the evil one will do all he can to keep us from believing in it. The Word of God tells us that the wisdom of God has purposed things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard and which has not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him (1Cor. 2:9); things so glorious that angels long to look (1Pet. 1:12).

I believe that the purpose of God, which He planned for us when He chose us in Christ Jesus, even before the foundation of the world, is a purpose so wonderful, that when understood, will put a true reason for our existence here on earth. It will help us understand the oft-asked question(s), “Why am I here on earth?”; “What is my real purpose in life?”; “What is the reason for my existence?”

While there was a time when we were lost, having no hope and without God in this world (Eph. 2:12), God showed us mercy and brought us near to Him by the blood of Christ that we too may share in the covenant of promise, a covenant in which, through our Lord Jesus Christ, we can come into that place beyond the veil and constantly remain in the Presence of God and know the Lord. For in the new covenant God says, “And they shall not teach every one his fellow-citizen, and every one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest of them.” (Heb. 8:11) 

2Corinthians 4:6 tells us – For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Christ.

God desires to shine that Light in our hearts so that increasingly with unveiled face we can behold the glory of the Lord (2Cor. 3:18). Increasingly the Spirit can reveal to us the Person of Jesus. Increasingly we could grow in the knowledge of Christ, not just in His work but in Him as a Person. "That I might know Him," was Paul's earnest longing. His heart was illumined bright enough for him to say – I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Php. 3:8).

Realizing then that since God desires in our lifetime – in whatever small way our finite minds can comprehend his infinite glory – to disclose Himself to us that we may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2Pet. 3:18), and since we have bold access, through our Lord Jesus, into the presence of God, let us use the tabernacle of Moses as a model to see the purpose of God for us from salvation (the gate to the outer court) to the presence of God (the Holy of Holies).

The main reason for this article is not to understand the tabernacle but to comprehend God’s purpose for our lives. The tabernacle is used in this article only as illustration so as to facilitate understanding into that purpose.  

We know from scripture that there was just one gate that led to the court of the tabernacle. There was no other way into it. In the New Covenant, Jesus clearly states that He is that door and that if anyone enters through Him, he shall be saved (Jn. 10:9). “No one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (Jn. 14:6) So the first simple yet most important truth we learn is – Jesus is the only way.

The bronze altar that stood in the court immediately in front of the gate was the altar of sacrifice. Christ Jesus, our High Priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens became our sacrifice once for all when He offered up Himself (Heb. 7:27). Through His own blood, He entered the most holy place once for all, in the greater and more perfect tabernacle, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb. 9:11,12). Through His blood we have obtained forgiveness with the promise – “I will remember your sins no more.” In Him we have been redeemed from the bondage of sin; set free to be willing bondservants of God. Through Him we have been made righteous by faith and now being justified, we come before a holy God with confidence making bold petition and prayers. By Him, we are made children of God and can address the Most High as “Father”. It is through Him that we receive the Holy Spirit as a seal of our redemption and the promise of eternal life.

Just before the entrance to the tabernacle stood a bronze laver where the priests would wash their hands and feet before entering (Ex. 30:18,19). We know from Ephesians 5: 26 that Christ sanctifies the Church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. Hebrews 10:22 while illustrating the cleansing at the bronze altar and the washing at the laver speaks thus – “…having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Now while there still remains that we enter the holy place with confidence, by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 10:19), it is unfortunate that most Christians stop outside the tabernacle and worship the Lord. They rejoice with having their hearts sprinkled clean by the blood of Jesus and are happy, like newborn babes, with the pure milk of the word. Yet the Bible exhorts us strongly saying – since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great Priest over the house of God [a High Priest who sympathizes with our weakness and shows us mercy and gives help in time of need (Heb. 4:15,16)], let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (Heb. 10:19-22).

On entering the holy place we find the menorah or the golden lampstand and the table of showbread. The lampstand is the only source of light in the holy place. The lampstand represents the Lord Jesus. His life is the light of men, the true light which coming into the world, enlightens every man (Jn. 1:4,9). His immeasurable love, His compassion, His tenderness, His mercy, His patience, His righteousness, His unspeakable holiness – all these and more shine as the light of the world. As His redeemed ones who follow Him in His footsteps (1Jn. 2:6), we walk in the light. Complete obedience to His word helps us live in this light (Jn. 8:12). Our lives – that now hungers and thirsts after righteousness and seeks His grace that we may be pure in heart (Mt. 5:6,8); and that cries out to Him to help us love one another just as He loves us – then begins to shine as a light. Love, patience, kindness, tenderness, righteousness and truth shines forth from us (Eph. 5:9) wherever we are – at home, at work – all the time. As Christ’s ambassadors we find ourselves like the salt of the earth; a city on a hill that cannot be hidden (Mt. 5:13-16).

The table of showbread that contained twelve loaves of bread remained before the Lord for a week before it was eaten by the priests and then replaced with a fresh batch. “I am the living bread of life that came down out of heaven,” Jesus declared, “If any one eats of this bread, he shall live forever.” (Jn. 6:51) It is my understanding that as we submit under the mighty hand of God in obedience to the Word of God (the Word is Jesus); clinging on to each word and sentence like one would precious treasure; we are in effect eating of this bread. Could the much misunderstood phrase of Jesus in John 6:53 actually mean this? I do not know. But what I have experienced is that as I humbly obey the word of God with a simple, undistracted devotion to the Lord (1Cor. 7:35); making it my ambition to please Him and glorify Him in everything I do (2Cor. 5:9; 1Cor. 10:31); God in His graciousness and loving kindness feeds me with a fresh understanding of His truths. As we read His word, He reveals His ways and shows more of Himself in a manner that makes our hearts feel like the pen of a ready writer – full of excitement, rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord. The frequency at which we receive a fresh revelation from God is almost like the fresh batch of bread placed on the table of showbread.

There is a common thread that runs through in the lessons from the golden lampstand and the table of showbread. Absolute obedience! In the holy place our mind is constantly thinking of the Lord. As ransomed children, whose home is above, we meditate on His word (Ps. 1:2) and constantly reflect on Him as to what pleases Him. Willingly we submit to the Lordship of Jesus crying, “Lord, Thy will be done. Glorify Thy Name.”

Moving on from the holy place and since now we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great High Priest over the house of God, we, can now draw near into the place where God can reveal Himself (Heb. 10:19-22). The Lord’s promise in John 14:21 gradually, yet in ever increasing splendor, is made manifest in us.

The Altar of Incense that was placed in front of the veil, near the ark of the testimony was perpetually burning with incense before the Lord (Ex. 30:6,8). Having now come into the glorious Presence of God; the praise and worship from our mouth and heart rises to Him in all truth. It is not lip-service. It comes from deep within, overflowing with gratitude, in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24). Every part of our being – our thoughts, made pure by His grace; the words from our mouth, the way we employ or use the members of our body – through the power of God, is brought in subjection to His Lordship and becomes our willing service and spiritual worship (Rom.12:1). Obedience to the new commandment of Jesus (Jn. 13:34) makes us a fragrant aroma before the Lord (Eph. 4:29-5:2). 

At the Ark of the Covenant we behold the faithfulness of God, as represented in the jar of manna; and the sovereignty of God, as represented by Aaron’s rod that budded; and the holiness of God, as represented in the tablets containing the commandments. The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness and truth (Ex. 34:6) makes known the riches of His grace which He has lavished upon us (Eph. 1:7,8) from the Mercy Seat.  The sanctified soul (Heb. 12:14), which by the enabling of God, is made holy (1Pet. 1:15) and pure in heart (Mt. 5:8), can now see God. The Lord in His faithfulness, discloses Himself (Jn. 14:21) giving us understanding and revelation of Him that we may have never ever known before. This insight is like vision given to the blind. “I was blind, but now I see,” we cry with pure ecstasy. Also, there is a sweet fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 13:14) and a revelation of the glory of God (2Cor. 4:6) that makes us feel like earthen vessels, carrying within us a treasure that is of surpassing greatness (2Cor. 4: 7). Worship floods our heart and mind and mouth as we behold the beauty of God.

Now, while each of us may be busy with different occupations and we all are doing various things according to the will of God; the purpose of God remains the same for every one of us. We must ensure that no matter what we are occupied with, we should have our focus clear at all times. As disciplined soldiers whose sole desire it is to please the one who enlisted us (2Tim. 2:4), we must set our mind on the glorious and heavenly privilege we have in the gospel. The things of this earth will constantly assail our senses but the word exhorts us to set our minds on the things above; and on Him who is unseen (Heb. 11:27) and not on the things of this earth (Col. 3:2). 

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but I strongly believe that it is God’s desire for each and every single child of His to experience daily the joy of His Presence and have our hearts illumined by the Holy Spirit to the glory of God as He shows us the truth in His word. He sent His only begotten Son to be our sacrifice that we may have eternal life (Jn. 3:16) and this is eternal life, that we may know Him, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent (Jn. 17:3).

And what is more, as a holy priesthood (1Pet. 2:9), we get to enjoy this priestly privilege even after our time on earth is over (Rev. 20:6).

The Lord Jesus asked us to pray that God’s kingdom would come and His will be done here on earth. My constant prayer before God is, “Lord, let Thy Church manifest Thy glory and shine forth in this dark world in righteous truth (Mt. 5:16) and Christ-like love (Jn. 13:34,35) so that the knowledge of the glory of God would fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14). Then all men shall know that Thou art true and they will believe in and cling to and put their trust in and depend upon Thy Name, Thy magnificent Name which is over every other name.”

I believe God is working in this direction and no matter how evil this present world is, God will accomplish His grand purpose; for He who is in us is greater, far greater, than he who is in the world.

So brethren, loved and precious before the Lord, let us be faithful to our heavenly calling. God is faithful. If He did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, surely He will now freely give us all things in Christ Jesus. He will keep our feet from stumbling and will give us the resurrection power (Rom. 8:11) to accomplish what He has purposed.

One Thing

The Bible uses the phrase, ‘One Thing’, four times. What is interesting is that this was mentioned by three persons at three different times, one of them separated by hundreds of years. God who is the beginning and the end is always consistent. As the author of the Bible, surely He could not mean four different one things? If God says, “one thing”, then there must be just one thing. What is it then? 

David first writes, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” (Psa. 27:4). 

The Lord Jesus in one of his visits to Bethany says to Lazarus’ sister, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41,42) 

At another time the Lord squarely addresses a rich ruler who asked how he could obtain eternal life. Though this man had kept the commandments of God from his youth, the Lord says to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Luke 18:22) 

A few decades later when the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians he spoke of the “one thing” he did. He had just finished telling the Church of how he counted the privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as one of surpassing value and how he considered everything else he had attained as rubbish. He wrote, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Php. 3:13,14) 

What is common in the one thing that we’ve read in the four different passages above? The ‘one thing’ that God’s Word is asking us to have is—a single-minded, undistracted devotion to God (1Cor. 7:35). This one thing revolves around the first and foremost commandment, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Mt. 22:37) 

How do we arrive at this conclusion?—you may well ask. David and Mary, both desired the presence of God—to listen to Him, fellowship with Him and enjoy being with Him. Such a desire can stem only from a deep love for God. A love that says, "You are the one and only thing I need." 

The Apostle Paul desired to know Him—to have a greater revelation and insight of the unfathomable God he worshiped. It is important at this point to note how Jesus links ‘knowing Him’ to ‘loving Him’. The Lord Jesus promises that He will disclose Himself to us when we love Him and keep His commandments (Jn. 14:21). The principle is simple: to know God, we must love and obey Him. 

The one thing that the Lord asked the rich, young ruler to do was possible only if one loved the one Master, the Lord Jesus Himself, and clung to Him while despising the other master, mammon (Mt. 6:24). 

So we see that in all the above instances, "a single-minded, whole-hearted, sincere devotion to God" is the key, operative factor that the Bible speaks of as the ‘one thing’ that we must seek after. 

In the world we have many distractions, many of them very legitimate—our careers, our aspirations, our wish-list. Most of our energy, our time and often a lot of our life is consumed with chasing after these things. Like Martha we are too busy hurrying here and there, doing this and that. We love God—we pray, read the Bible and go to church—but our relationship with the Master is often devoid of that “first-love” (Rev. 2:4). Oh that we can get to that first-love that Christ spoke of; and yearn for Him, earnestly desire Him—not just His hand but more so His face.

As Christ’s redeemed ones, we have need of only ‘one thing’. We need to place God on the decision-making seat of our life; we need to cling to Him, depend on Him and say, “No matter what Lord, I want to submit to and walk in Thy perfect will. If in Thy faultless wisdom Thou dost lead me to let go of all that I cherish and possess, I want to honour Thee with obedience of faith that exhibits to the great cloud of witnesses that Christ is enough for me. Like David and Mary I want to constantly enjoy and grow in that close fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 13:14). Like Paul, I ask that I may increasingly gain insight and understanding of Thy fathomless being. Disclose Thy beautiful Self to me, O Lord (Jn. 14:21). Increasingly, let me behold Thy beauty (2Cor. 3:18; 4:6).” 

More than anything else today, the Church needs to arise and lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of us. We need to with sincerity of devotion live each moment of each day with the single-minded ambition to please the Lord (2Cor. 5:9). We need to resolutely decide before God that whatever we do, even in mundane things like eating and drinking, we will glorify Him (1Cor. 10:31). The early Church had such devotion. Not only did no one claim that anything that belonged to him was his own (Acts 4:32), but they first gave themselves to love the Lord in completely surrender (2Cor. 8:5). 

One thing is needed Church, just one thing. I believe God will not only satisfy such longing hearts that pursue this, but will glorify His name in them.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a Democracy

The kingdom of God is not a democracy. It does not work on the principle of majority or consensus. These are ideas of the world. 

God is alone the all wise, perfect and sovereign King. In His kingdom there is submission. He has instituted the principle of submission not because He wants to lord over us or be a dictator. Rather, because of His loving kindness toward us, He eagerly desires to guide the humble and submissive ones to His perfect and good plans. For did not God Himself say, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts?" (Isa. 55:9)

To the authority which God in His sovereignty institutes whether to parents, the pastor, our boss or our leaders in government, it is His desire that we submit and honor them. (1Pet. 2:13-15) We must never speak ill of them, even if they are doing evil. Instead with reverence we must lift them before God for His working. This is the principle of God's word and obedience to it pleases God. Be assured, it will go well with you.  (Eph. 6:3)

In a world where we are so used to having our vote, expressing our opinions, fighting for our rights, etc. we use the ways of the world to deal with issues. Oh that as redeemed ones of the Lord, we would increasingly submit and depend on God who rules with all power and authority. Oh if we were to only adopt His ways and not the ways of the world. The Bible promises us that because we put our trust in Him, we will not be put to shame.  (Rom. 10:11)

Humble or submit yourself under the mighty hand of God therefore and He will lift you up at the proper time. (1Pet. 5:6)

The Poor in Spirit

The Lord Jesus began His Sermon on the Mount by saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

What is it to be poor in spirit? The opposite of poor is rich. Sinful man has this inherent nature to think of himself as rich. He considers himself as wise and important in his own surroundings and even if he is not, he gives the impression that he is. He is offended when he is slighted and protects fiercely his image and reputation when he is confronted or threatened.

"You say, 'I am rich and have become wealthy and have need of nothing,' " the risen Christ said in Revelation 3:17. We make it our life's ambition to amass all that is impressionable in the world. When we have done so, we deem ourselves successful. When we fail we are discouraged and are seen as a failure.

But the Lord Jesus continues, "You do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." Strong words to believers, mind you, not unbelievers. We need to allow God to constantly renew our mind and show us our real selves that we may come to Him in poverty and be filled with what He fills us with in His mercy. This, so that our "riches" do not come from ourselves but from what He fills us with. (Rev. 3:18) It is then that we increasingly have less and less expectations from others and are not offended if we 'feel' insulted or think that we are taken for granted. "He must increase, but I must decrease," our hearts would then echo the testimony of John the Baptist. (Jn. 3:30)

To be sure, as A.W. Tozer wrote in his book, The Pursuit of God, "the meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is weak and helpless as God has declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything."

Blessed is such a man. The Bible calls him poor in spirit. To such a one belongs the kingdom of heaven.

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

The Good News from God is remarkably wonderful, so wonderful indeed that the evil one will do all he can to keep us from believing in it. The Word of God tells us that the wisdom of God has purposed things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard and which has not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him (1Cor. 2:9). Things so glorious that angels long to look (1Pet. 1:12).

Now, in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, God has through the Spirit revealed these precious things to us that we might know the things freely given to us by God (1Cor. 2: 10,12).

The Good News of God in its very basic sense tells us that God has, through our Lord Jesus Christ, shown us mercy and has opened the way to being reconciled to Him resulting in salvation and eternal life. However, as we delve deeper, we would notice two aspects - the legal aspect and the relationship aspect of the Gospel. The truths of both these aspects are so precious that a close look at each truth would only compel us to fall prostrate before the Lord Jesus and thank Him for His boundless love and His marvelous work.

The legal aspect of the Gospel involves Repentance, Forgiveness of sins, Cleansing by the blood of the Lord Jesus, Redemption, Justification by faith, Being sealed with the Holy Spirit, Promise of eternal life, etc. This is the work of the cross or the work of Christ.

The relationship aspect involves what the Word of God calls 'the ministry of the Holy Spirit' (2Cor. 3:8). In this aspect we experience the Person of Christ.

The two aspects are inseparable and together constitute the purpose of God for us. And while the legal is a mandatory precursor to the relationship, more often than not we find ourselves rejoicing in the legal aspects of the marvelous work of Christ while failing to enjoy the Person Himself.

Could this be the reason why the Author to the Hebrews exhorted the saints to leave the elementary teaching about the Christ and press on to maturity (Heb. 5:11-6:2) or Paul to the Corinthian Church that he speaks a wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom not of this age nor of the rulers of this age but a wisdom taught by the Spirit (1Cor. 2:6-16)?

While reflecting on the Word of God we would notice that the relationship aspect as brought about by the ministry of the Holy Spirit is at least two-fold.

1. Enjoying God in His Presence

One of the glorious privileges we have through our Lord Jesus Christ is the precious opportunity to constantly remain in the Presence of God. In the New Covenant we can come into that place beyond the veil and remain there. Our problem is that we have not learned to value this privilege. We have not, like David, made it the one thing we desire (Ps. 27:4). 

The Bible tells us that in God's Presence there is fullness of joy or exceeding joy (Ps. 16:11). Let us with longing hearts draw constantly to Him and He will meet us. At that time there will be sweet fellowship with the Spirit and a joy inexpressible. My cry to the Lord is that I dwell in His Presence not occasionally but constantly.

2. Growing in the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ

2Corinthians 4:6 tells us that -

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

God desires to shine that Light in our hearts so that increasingly with unveiled face we can behold the glory of the Lord (2Cor. 3:18). Increasingly the Spirit could reveal to us the Person of Jesus. Increasingly we would grow in the knowledge of Christ, not just in His work but in Him as a Person. "That I might know Him," was Paul's earnest longing. His heart was illumined bright enough for him to say - 

I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Php. 3:8).

We have not, like Paul, made it the one thing we do (Php. 3:13). But the Spirit of truth wants to show us Jesus.

"He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you." (Jn. 16:14) was what the Lord Jesus said of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The Good News of the Lord is remarkably wonderful. God has purposed for us things that are indescribable; things which are immensely precious. It is like treasure in earthen vessels, but precious treasure indeed (2Cor. 4:7).

Lord help us that we not just know of this precious treasure but lay hold of that for which also we were laid hold of by Christ Jesus (Php. 3:12).