|
Matthew 6:10 … on earth as it is in heaven. When Moses met Adonai on the mountain he received the following instructions, And let them (the Children of Israel) make me (Adonai) a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain (Exodus 25:8-9, 40). Moses was the first Biblically recorded prophet to have seen God’s throne room and God required that the Children of Israel build His earthly Sanctuary exactly as Moses saw it on the Mount. If we want to understand Heaven and our relationship with the Almighty, all we have to do is ponder on the picture of Israel’s encampment around the Tabernacle and on the Tabernacle Itself. In essence, the Children of Israel were building Heaven on earth. The dimensions and instructions to build this Tabernacle were very specifics (Exodus 35). This teaches us that God didn’t leave it up to us to decide how to worship and love Him. Of course we are free moral agents, but even as Yeshua said, our love for Him, as well as our unification to Him are measured by our obedience (John 15:10). Spirituality outside of Torah always leads to idolatry and paganism. Torah teaches us the definition and structure of worshipping God; it creates a structure and shape for spirituality to fill. In their attempt to bring divinity into their midst without the parameters of Torah, the Children of Israel built an idol, and rather than bring God close to them, they repulsed Him. Here is something to think about now: how often do we see the same dynamic at work among believers who earnestly desire after God, but pursue Him outside of the good laws of His revealed word? We would like to think that God doesn’t care how we love Him as long as we love Him, but these instructions on how to do so are a testament to the opposite. My wife and I run a small school and youth programs from our house. I have certain behavior rules concerning attitude, language, and general comportment that kids have to uphold while they are within the parameters of my property. I expect them to obey me if they want to benefit of what I have to offer them. They cannot argue with my rules telling me that their parents or their neighbor allows them to do certain things that I don’t. I tell them it is, ‘My house, my rule!’ I guess God is like any father on earth. He establishes the rules and parameters of His Kingdom and anyone living in it has to live by them or incur His displeasure. May we today learn to love the Father as He intended us to do it. Certain things may still be difficult to understand, but the Father in His indulgent love has sent Yeshua to help answer much of our questions. Yeshua in turn has allowed His apostles to give us many specifics on how to live a Torah lifestyle. May we spend our lives living by them and in so doing, build Heaven on earth.
Related Articles -
Heaven, Torah, Tabernacle, obedience to God,
|
