shai linne – The Holy Spirit ft. Timothy Brindle and Leah Smith

As I read of the different components that make up the story of the building of the tabernacle, two illustrations caught my attention. The candlesticks and the rings made of gold that were built into the ark so that it could be carried on poles. Those two items have a lot of history coming up and both are relevant in my discovering who I am as a disciple of Jesus.

The candlestick represents the light of God’s Word and Spirit which came to me in the person of Jesus Christ as He pierced the darkness of my world and gave me light so that I could come to a place in making a decision to follow Him. His light directs me in my worship and obedience and offered me comfort.

There was a caution though given to Moses as he was making the items for the tabernacle.

And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain. – Exodus 25:40  ESV

Nothing was left to Moses’ creativity, only the will of God was to be observed. As the Holy Spirit resides in me, I have the law of God in my heart and I live a life of communion with God.

You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.  You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.  And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. – Exodus 25:12-14  ESV

While the rings are a fascinating item to me, obviously the ark itself is of tremendous importance. As the ark represented the presence of God always being with the people, Jesus is always with me. He goes with me wherever I go and stays with me wherever I am staying.

While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. – Luke 24:15  ESV

Jesus finds a way to draw near to me. It is as if He is saying, “the kingdom of God has come near.” As I enter into ministry, as I pray, the kingdom of God does come near and God’s hopes and dreams for the world come near, Jesus comes near.