FYI...IN CASE YOU NEEDED DIRECTION/RE-ALIGNMENT

And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.  Exodus 26:35



As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.  Rev. 1:20






GOD was very specific regarding the construction of the Tabernacle that the Israelites were to set up in the Wilderness. Everything had a place, and there was a reason for it being set in it's place.   I don't want to spend much of my blog speaking about each piece, but I do want to highlight two pieces the Lampstand and the Table of Shewbread.   Notice how the table of shewbread is positioned north, while the lampstand is south of it.    The table held the shewbread, which is representative of the bread of life, Jesus, and the very purpose of the lampstand was to illuminate the shewbread.   If you move the lampstand then the shewbread is no longer illuminated.  Which again...the sole purpose of the lampstand was to highlight, cast light upon the shewbread.   Now, in the book of Revelations we are told that the lampstand is representative of the church.   So the purpose of the church, is to illuminate, to draw attention to, to point people to CHRIST, the Shewbread, the Bread of Life.

Unfortunately when we don't understand this principle, we being the church...will try to cast our light on things, other than JESUS.   Now, before someone tries to hijack this blog and say we are supposed to be salt and light, and light is suppose to shine in places of darkness (TRUE), but the purpose of the CHURCH is to SHINE IT'S LIGHT UPON THE SHEWBREAD.    Now imagine if we take OUR LIGHT (lampstand) out of the HOLY PLACE to an ANTI-ABORTION RALLY?   What if we took our LIGHT (lampstand) to the Democratic/Republican/Tea-Party conventions?   What if we took our LIGHT to protest against GAY-RIGHTS, or GAYS in the Military, or at the funerals of those that were gay and served our country?  Or here's one....If took our LIGHT (the lampstand) to town hall meeting to advocate against busing kids into our communities, or GUN RIGHTS, etc?

I'll tell you what happens....when and if we do this......the table of shewbread, CHRIST is no longer highlighted, and we are positionally and totally out of alignment.   Now does the Bible have something to say about some of the things mentioned above...absolutely!!!!   But our role, our calling as THE CHURCH is to CAST LIGHT onto JESUS, to point people to Him.  This is best carried out through how we LOVE GOD enough to DO, TO FOLLOW HIS COMMANDMENTS.  Not try to make unbelievers follow it.....BUT WE ARE TO!    Then how we LOVE PEOPLE, by showing them the grace we were shown, and exposed to that made CHRIST attractive to those of us living in darkness prior to coming to CHRIST.   So before you attend your next pet causes meetings, ask yourself this question....have you moved the lampstand?  Please don't!   LGLP

THE POINT (OF IT ALL)

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. ⁶⁷ Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

⁶⁸ Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. ⁶⁹ We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”
⁷⁰ Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”  John 6:67-70


There comes a point in all of our lives that we reach the POINT!  You know for some of you it's the breaking point.   For other's it the bottom of the barrel.  For other's it's the Point of No Return, or the point of enough's enough.   Whatever the POINT is, at that given moment a decision is required.  Even if the decision is not to make a decision one, needs to recognize not making a decision is just that a decision as well.  Take for instance to pic above if you are driving and you see this choosing to stay in the LANE ENDS, means just that YOUR END.  Some of you are doing the same things you did in H.S. and that sign reads.....LANE ENDS.....enough said. 

For others its electing to choose one of the other options guaranteed decline, and far too often we choose against this one, because in our minds we have a portrait of success...which usually we are swimming in money, comfortable home, totally secure...and we are at the top of our game.....but that always won't be the way....there is this thing called aging that happens to us all that may have us yielding onto uncertain opportunity.  Whichever......you have to choose, and like many times in the Gospels Jesus challenges those following Him to deepen their commitment in light of some uncertainties, as well as some knowing it will be a rough road up ahead filled with opportunities to GLORIFY HIM, not you.  

So what about you....have you realized that HE has the words that give more than just life, but rather the ETERNAL LIFE that shall proceed this one?  Peter did.  Now we know the whole Peter story, he assaulted someone, lied that he even knew Jesus, and Jesus still have mercy on him, and restored him.  This is not about what church you attend, or if you attend church, but rather are you listening to, studying His WORD, so much so you are BECOMING THE CHURCH He's promising to come and receive unto himself?  That too..is s decision....that you have to make.  11 of the 12 were true in their commitment while....there was one amongst them that was not.  Which in closing I want to just say.....HE WAS STILL CHOSEN BY CHRIST!   JUDAS didn't sneak in....didn't bamboozle CHRIST.....he was chosen as one of the twelve....just be aware THERE'S ALWAYS ONE (that's still in need of experiencing the love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness of CHRIST)!



So what will you decide to do with today? How will you handle the betrayer in the office?   At what point will you stop saying I SHOULD BE or WOULD BE...and START DOING?  Since tomorrow isn't promised to any of us......I suggest you seize THIS DAY my friends!  LGLP247