You are the New Holy of Holies
One time several years ago when I was still single, I invited my parents to come for a visit. I had fond memories of time spent on the lake as a family, so I decided to rent a little cabin and surprise them with a few days on the lake.
When we got to the cabin, it was not what I thought it was going to be. It was old, run-down, and dirty, and there were cockroaches, spiders, and who knows what else lurking in the shadows.
We all took one look around and glanced at each other as if to say, “We are going to live here for the next few days?”
I wonder if some of us think that is the way God feels when He comes to dwell in us.
Maybe God shows up, looks around, and isn’t too pleased with what He sees. We know the depth of our sin. We know where we’ve been, what we’ve done, and who we are. I bet God takes one look and says, “I am going to live here of all places?”
But that is not at all what God is thinking. Paul tells us that you and I are God’s temple, and the dwelling place of God in the temple under the Old Covenant was the Holy of Holies.
HOLY OF HOLIES
The Holy of Holies was the innermost and most sacred area of the tabernacle of Moses and the temple of Jerusalem. It was a perfect cube, and it contained the Ark of the Covenant.
The Holy of Holies (also referred to as the Most Holy Place) was separated from the Holy Place and the outer court by a veil. The veil was woven from fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. It was decorated with intricate embroidery featuring an image of gold cherubim.
This veil was needed because God had said he would appear in the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 16:2), and a barrier was needed between man and God because of His holiness and being too pure to look on evil (Habakkuk 1:13).
According to the law God gave Moses, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies. This high priest could only enter once per year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
Before the high priest would enter, he would wash himself, put on special clothing, gather incense, and secure the blood from a sacrificed animal. When he was inside the Holy of Holies, he would burn the incense (to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God) and sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat of the ark to atone for his own sins and the sins of the people.
God does not take the places that He dwells in lightly.
THE VEIL IS TORN
When Jesus went to the cross, He took the sins of all people for all time and made a once for all sacrifice to do away with our sins (Hebrews 10:1).
When Jesus’ sacrificial work was finished on the cross, the veil was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51), signifying that man no longer had to be separated from God.
19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
(Hebrews 10:19-22)
With the veil being torn now, when you place your faith in Jesus for salvation, you become the new Holy of Holies.
YOU ARE THE NEW HOLY OF HOLIES
At the moment you put your trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, God comes to dwell in you.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
(Ephesians 1:13-14)
Paul says that when you believed, God the Holy Spirit was deposited in you. You became the dwelling place of God. You are the new Holy of Holies.
Do you think the Holy of Holies as described in the temple was a mediocre living place for the God of the universe? Do you think He showed up, looked around, and said, “I am going to dwell here?”
No, of course not! He had given very specific and elaborate instructions for how to build the temple so that He could dwell in the most holy place.
So, if you are the new Holy of Holies, do you think God comes to live in you and actually says, “Oh great, I am going to live here?”
No! He doesn’t look around in disappointment and see a dilapidated environment.
Your sin is gone. You are clean. You have been washed by the blood of the Lamb.
You are an acceptable dwelling place for the God of the universe because He’s remade you into someone new. He is delighted to live in you.
GOD’S SACRED MOBILE HOME
Several years ago, I read Ralph Harris’ outstanding book, titled, God’s Astounding Opinion of You. He mentioned several things in the opening chapter that were highlighter worthy, but one of the things he wrote jumped off of the page at me.
As the new Holy of Holies, you are God’s sacred mobile home.
I doubt very many of us think of ourselves as sacred. By and of yourself, you are not. However, in Christ, you are righteous and holy. In Him, you are sacred.
Don’t fall for Satan’s lies about who you are and what God thinks of you. When we do, we walk around defeated. We miss the abundant life Jesus came to give us. We settle for mediocrity over God’s eternal impact that He can make through us as His sacred mobile home.
You are God’s new Holy of Holies. You are His sacred mobile home. Go out into the world and enjoy God’s presence in you. Go where He is leading and watch Him make an eternal difference as He uses you in His Kingdom work throughout your day.
Many people would be surprised to learn that God’s view of them is much greater than their own. Ralph Harris, founder and President of LifeCourse Ministries, leads readers to experience a deeply satisfying, joyful relationship with Christ as they embrace what God thinks of them―that they are holy, righteous, blameless, and lovable.
With easily communicated biblical knowledge and examples of God’s grace, Harris turns readers toward the love affair with God they were made for.
Readers will encounter wisdom, direction, and encouragement as they rest in God’s truth and mercy, develop a sincere partnership with Christ, and live as confident children of God.
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