by Jesse Abel
There
are twenty seven references to being happy, while there are over one
hundred seventy references to having joy in the Bible. There is
national, personal and Spiritual joy and all are a grace gift of God
while being happy is not grace or a gift. Happiness is an emotion of the
flesh; while joyfulness is a realized condition of a healthy
relationship with the Creator. Ezra 6:19-22
There
are so many truths in the Holy Bible about our LORD Jesus and to pick
just one and comment on it is impossible too do without a mention of one
or more of the other truths about Him. I suppose that the apostle John
had this in mind in his gospel when he penned these last few words. “This
is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things;
and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other
things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose
that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be
written. Amen.” John 21:24-25.
In
Hebrews nine the writer in verses one through nine describes the
limitations that time places on the earthly sanctuary and services of
worship. He notes that the first covenant had ordinances and this is
important in that anything that is covered by LAW is limited to the
outworking of that law; such as he mentions, ordinances of divine
service including ordinances within the sanctuary. The first part of the
sanctuary included the lampstand, the table and showbread. This first
room was called the holy place and was veiled off from the second room
and as you know the second room was called the holiest of all.
Included
in this room was the golden altar, the ark of the first covenant, the
golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded and the tables of the Law
of the first covenant. Above all these objects were the cherubim; these
guarded the empty Mercy Seat. Earthy service in this room, as you know
was performed annually, yet none of these high priests sat on the seat,
they were only allowed to sprinkle the blood of the slain animals on the
seat. In this we can see that this earthly service of worship was…
limited.
For me to think about these truths is joy as I hope that you will also have. But Christ; let me say it again! “But Christ”
who is Thee High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater
and more perfect tabernacle, the one that is not made by the limitations
of time and the restrictions of ordinances of creation. The Christ who
does not enter that tabernacle with the blood of goats and calves; but
with His own blood, He entered in to the holiest of all, once for all.
Now how much more shall the blood of Christ, through the eternal Spirit
cleanse you and me from a conscience of dead works? This is no longer
then a temporal condition, restricted with ordinances and time. Why?
Because the Second Covenant is made perfect and permanent through Jesus,
the Christ who lived to die and rise again.
Jesus
is seated in the heavenly sanctuary; the greater, perfect tabernacle;
yes we must picture Him seated on the Mercy Seat… protected by the
Cherubim. We who are called, chosen and sanctified through His blood are
seated with Him in eternity this very moment. Only time and the partial
indwelling of the Holy Spirit restrict our service of worship while
presently on earth. This second covenant is the fulfilled by
Christ promise that all of the whosoever will, will receive the eternal
inheritance that Jesus Christ has for all of us who have this hope
within our soul. Now for me that is JOY, and I hope it is for you as
well.
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