OUR GLORIOUS SANCTUARY

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.

Jeremiah 17:12

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Where is your sanctuary?

Perhaps before you consider the question and answer it properly, it would be good to know the definition of the word “sanctuary”. Consulting a dictionary yields the following meaning:

- a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter.

With this, let me rephrase my question and ask:

In what place do you feel protected and sheltered?

I believe most people today would probably answer that they feel secure and safe within their place of residence, at peace and comfort within their own personal refuge. Having a partner to share life and a residence with might add to the sense of protection a person may feel within their sanctuary.

But as we look at today’s scripture verse from Jeremiah 17, we’re all reminded that broader consideration needs to be given to the sanctuary question for we all have access to a sanctuary greater than any this world can offer us. Look again at this verse:

A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary. Jeremiah 17:12

Note here that the Bible defines our true sanctuary as being the place where God resides. This marries up with another dictionary definition of sanctuary:

- a sacred or holy place; immunity afforded by refuge in such a place.  

Think about this in terms of the words from our scripture passage for there could be no sacred or holy place than in the heavens where the very throne of God exists and has existed since the beginning, exalted from the beginning for in the beginning, there was nothing but God. He brought all things into being and became their greatest refuge. Truly, we have no greater protection than when we are in His presence.

For now, God is in the heavens watching over us and keeping us in His care but a day is coming when we will dwell with Him forever, reveling in the immunity from anything that could bring us harm in this world, rejoicing in the splendor of an eternity spent worshipping God around His throne in a glorious sanctuary where there will be no more sin, no more pain, no more suffering, no more affliction, no more hardship, no more grieving, and no more hurt or pain. There will be nothing left for us to fear for we will forever live in peace and light and love, wrapped in the shelter and protection of the arms of God, a truth captured in the words of this classic hymn:

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:

Leaning, leaning,

Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:

Leaning, leaning,

Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

I pray you have secured your way to your glorious sanctuary as you read this today. If so, grandeur, magnificence, and solace await. If not, you can ensure you won’t miss a life like no other through just committing to Jesus and acknowledging Him as your Savior today. For through Him, and only through Him, we find our way to heaven and the assurance that the best is yet to come, no matter how good things are in this worldly existence.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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