The Tabernacle & 
The Christian Life

The Law of God seems to form two end points.

It lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24) - from the left, giving us conviction of sin
And The Tablets of the Law were in the Ark - to the right, giving us knowledge of God

Perhaps this means that we really can't understand the Law properly until we enter into an intimate relationship with God on His terms, as Paul also indicates:

"We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."2Cor 3:13-18

The Curtain

The Old Tabernacle had a curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. This was literally torn in half and thus removed when Christ died.

"The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." Mark 15:38

The curtain may be likened to the physical body of Christ, which having been torn apart on the cross opened for us a way to have access to God.

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body" Heb 10:19,20

To enter the tabernacle, one must be dressed properly. Under the Old Covenant, a priest had to wear particular clothes while in service in the tabernacle. Inappropriate dress could lead to one's death. Under the New Covenant, one must cloth themself with Christ to experience an intimate relationship with God.

In Matt 22, Jesus told a parable of a man invited to a wedding, but who dressed inappropriately. He concludes this way:

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

Jesus also speaks of clothes in a number of places in Revelations:

"Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy." Rev 3:4

The focus of our faith is the atoning work of Christ. The immediate application of such is acknowledging our sins in humility, trusting in Christ to atone for them. Just as theories are not convictions until they are applied, so one's faith in Christ may be merely on the level of an opinion until it is applied to one's life.

Such convictions will lead to a life of obedience to God's Word as the Holy Spirit directs us, having accepted Christ not only as Savior, but Lord. This is the way the Christian loves God, through obedience.

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."John 14:21

Obedience leads to understanding. Though there are those who think they can simply understand God through study, application is necessary for revelation - Application of the Bible directed by the Holy Spirit.

"I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts." Ps 119:100

Understanding God will transform us. People have a natural tendency to make God in their own image. There is a connection between our view of ourselves and our view of God. As we allow God to change our view of Him by allowing Him to define Himself, so also our view of ourselves will change, and so we will change.