Sanctuary?

 

When I first put my trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord there was a song that was popularly sung in churches. The song was simply “Sanctuary.”

Here is the first few lines of that song.

“Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for You”

I was pondering that word sanctuary and I have come to the conclusion that we do and I specifically do not have an adequate grasp of what that means. The word sanctuary means in its original meaning means a sacred place, a holy place, a place set apart.It is meant for humans as a place of safety.

As believers we meet at an appointed time as called out ones in a place that is refered to as a sanctuary, a place of safety.

What does that mean exactly? Well I am glad that you asked…

As Noah built an ark (Genesis 5) it was a place of safety that would preserve life. Those outside the ark would not have the safety of such a place. They would drown as the waters rose to a level far above their comprehension.

We have been offered an opportunity each and everyday to be in a place of safety as we abide in Him. Peter saw the ark as a picture of God’s deliverance of all who believe in Him. Peter said that those in the ark were saved through the water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you; it saves you by the resurrection of Christ (1Peter 3:20-22).

Ok Ok what does that have to do with sanctuary?

The root word for sanctuary is sacred, set apart, Holy. So what I am implying here is this, when we enter a place that we deem to be a sanctuary do we treat that place as a place where the Spirit of God is?

Do we enter in through the outer court into the inner court and then directly into the Holy of Holies?

Or do we view the external as just a place of brick and mortar made by man?

The answer to these questions will reflect how you relate to Jesus.

Do you or I come to a place to meet with Jesus or do we come to socialize and minimize the awareness of His Presence that we have set apart for meeting. Friends we meet together to have communion (Union with Christ) which is our Hope of Glory. (Phil 1:27)

It is there that we cry out as Isaiah did, when He actually became aware of Him, that he was a man of unclean lips. (Is.6)

We all need to reverence (another word for holy) the time spent in His presence no matter wher that is and not take it lightly. Come as the song says;

“Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for You”.

Are you prepared?

Anyway that is how I see it…