all you've got to do is turn around

The Word for today:

Exodus 29

Yesterday, we entered the Tabernacle through its single gate:

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  (John 10:9) 

My Picture Bible.

God sent a picture before He sent the Person. The Tabernacle is God’s picture book.

ABC’s of salvation—

The Tabernacle presents the great doctrines of the Christian faith in picture form.

Salvation is on the move.

The sentence above should read: ‘The Tabernacle presents the great doctrines of the Christian faith in moving picture form.’

As we proceed through the Tabernacle, let's remember that the Tabernacle isn't an art gallery with still pictures in frames.  These pictures depict your very own pilgrim's progress toward eternal life with God.

So don't let these pictures remain remote and static and lifeless.  Don't let these pictures be "theology."  Instead make them an outline of the story of your new life with God.  As we proceed through the Tabernacle, personalize each step with the details of your own life…

Can you remember when you decided to "go through the gate?"  Can you recall those first steps--perhaps halting and hesitant steps--towards faith in Jesus?

There's a well-loved Bible story that depicts one man's decision to go back home to his Father.  (Many of you knew, halfway through the previous sentence, that I am referring to Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke 15.)

The young man went to a far country where he led a life filled with sin.  Then one day he came to his senses and decided to go back home.  Here's the moment when he "entered the gate" to his father's estate:

And he arose and came to his father.  But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  (Luke 15:20)

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Remember that the Tabernacle is the Tent of Meeting.  As you made your way back to God, he was waiting and watching and hoping to see you come through the gate.

In fact, in Exodus, the Tabernacle is described from "the inside out"---from God's point of view as he looks from within the Holiest Place out to the gate.

If, as you read this, you are still in the far country, the gate is always open and God is waiting and watching and hoping for prodigals like you to come back home.

All you've got to do is turn around.

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