Sanctuary

Lord, prepare me
To be a sanctuary
Pure and holy
Tried and true
With thanksgiving
I’ll a be a living
Sanctuary
For You.

The first time I ever went on a youth trip was as a youth counselor. I’m sure I learned more that year than the teens I worked with. (I was green beyond belief!) The lines above have stayed with me ever since that trip over ten years ago. Recently this song came to mind again in conjunction with a Bible study I’m doing about the Tabernacle.

God was very clear and specific with Moses in regards to how He wanted the Tabernacle made. Right down to the cubit. The altars of sacrifice and incense, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place, the priestly garments, the lampstand.

I love how the incense represents prayer. I love how the whole imagery here ultimately leads to Christ and his final sacrifice. I love how God weaves this tale in pages and pages of symbolism that will take us from this lifetime and into the next to understand it all. And maybe all of eternity to fully appreciate. I love this great big God who saw fit to give me a glimpse of what’s to come in regards to my precious husband.

You see, I’ve come to realize that what God shows me the first time is never the complete picture. Like a multifaceted diamond, his revelations capture the light of truth and reveal unlimited nuances. And so it’s happened again.

If you remember I wrote a post a few weeks back entitled “So Be It.” Three precious words that I knew set into motion the answer to a prayer spoken long ago. A prayer for my husband’s salvation. All along I’ve assumed God originally shared this prophecy with me so that it would be a testimony to others. That I still firmly believe. But last night during my Bible study meeting, God revealed another facet to this extraordinary gem.

God loved me that much that He wanted me to know. He wanted to do this for me. I can’t tell you how hard that was to accept at first. I mean, who am I to warrant such attention? Isn’t that just like most of us—to doubt that we could have any value or meaning to our Heavenly Father?

Yet last night He saw fit to remind me of this very thing—as an answer to another prayer spoken just moments before in response to our study.

“God, show me my worth to you.”

I sit at my desk writing this, near tears, because it’s only as I began to put words to page did I realize how intimately my God loves me. One prayer will have taken years to answer—and will be worth the wait (Just months away. Can you say “Praise God” with me?). Which led to another prayer answered in moments, and so interconnected with the first. Don’t you just love how God gets all the mileage He can out of everything He does?

So, now you’re sitting there, hopefully following my meandering train of thought, and perhaps wondering what that song has to do with what I’m saying.

As I studied the making and parameters of the Tabernacle, God brought this song to mind. And in a brief glimpse showed me the meaning. The moment Christ died, we became his Tabernacle, his Sanctuary. And He resides in us the moment we say yes and invite him into the place He wants to make his home, his Most Holy Place.

And now I want to sing this song a new way. I hope you’ll sing with me.

Lord, prepare him
(Or her—put your loved one’s face in your heart and mind or even use his or her name.)
To be a sanctuary
Pure and holy
Tried and true
With thanksgiving
He’ll be a living
Sanctuary
For You.

Praying and believing,
Dineen