Sanctuary Job


Num 18:5  "Your job is to take care of the Sanctuary and the Altar so that there 

	will be no more outbreaks of anger on the People of Israel. 


	The condition of the sanctuary is directly related to the ability of 

anyone to avert sin and its consequences. It must be maintained meticulously so 

that it may remain pure before God, pleasing Him as a place of residence. 


I've experienced, both as a child and as a parent, that one of the most 

challenging aspects of family living is maintaining the cleanliness of the home, 

especially the individual bedrooms of each child. For some reason, most of us 

were not born with this natural gravitation to perfection in keeping things 

clean and in their place. Somehow it seems that there is this constant need for 

discipline with a repeated threat of consequences in order to develop the habit 

of cleanliness. 


	I remember in particular a problem in our home with my siblings and myself 

was leaving our shoes anywhere in the house but the closet where they belonged. 

We had been verbally prompted many times, but we never seemed to quite get it 

until my father employed the use of syrup dripped into any shoe found where it 

shouldn't be. There were mornings when, in the rush to get out of the house to 

school, there would be an anguished cry as one of us discovered the sticky 

substance in the shoe we had left in the living room or under the dining room 

table. All we had to do was just keep our shoes and rooms picked up and the 

atmosphere was given a much more peaceful air. But, as things were allowed to 

remain where they fell with disorder prevailing, there were many unpleasant 

moments as the process of discipline was given its place and our habits were 

adjusted. It seemed that the presence of anything unkempt was unacceptable and 

would give our parents, and therefore us, much displeasure. 


	Growing up in the home it was a bit difficult to understand what the big 

deal was over all this orderliness. Why bother with taking all that time to 

clean things up when they were just going to get messed up again? Might as well 

just go ahead, play and do the things that seemed like fun? But, as I've come 

into the role of parent myself, there has been an imparting of understanding in 

this area. While there is an established desire for a clean and orderly home, 

there is also an understanding that productivity and character are allowed to 

develop when things are maintained in organization and cleanliness. For the 

successful growth and development of each child, this discipline must be 

instilled, and, as a loving parent, it cannot be ignored. As a room's appearance 

is allowed to become unruly and unclean, there is very likely to be an outburst 

from Kim or myself towards the neglecting child as they have demonstrated both 

disobedience and a lack of care about their own condition. While teamwork may be 

employed for the main part of the house, there is a personal responsibility that 

each child has for its own space that cannot be given to another sibling. 

Measures have to be taken and consequences enforced so that behaviors will be 

adjusted for their own good. How peaceful, favorable, and productive is the home 

as things are picked up and given order. This, in fact, becomes the preferred 

and desired way as the selfish tendencies of slothfulness are left behind for 

the reward of fellowship in a disciplined and organized abode. 


	As a child in the family of God, each of us has the job of taking care of 

our sanctuary. While it is so good to have been given this gift of life and the 

heritage of the Lord of all, in order to get beyond the natural consequences of 

our own errant behavior, it is essential that we learn to keep our room clean 

and removed of discarded items. Like the tabernacle in the Old Testament, it may 

be that we get help in this maintenance from others as we take in the revelation 

they've received and allow it to remove the old, unclean items. But, there is a 

most holy place within us, set apart from the access of any other. This is the 

special place that has access by us alone. This is the place where each of us 

gets to experience fellowship with our Father, one on one and alone with Him. 

This room will be affected by the cleanliness of the outer rooms, but there is 

no other person who will be able to enter this place for its maintenance and 

preparation for fellowship with the Father. Each of us must alone keep this 

place in a state of readiness for His favorable presence. This is our job, our 

duty, our privilege, and in developing its discipline the rewards far outweigh 

any initial perception of difficulty. In fact, the reward of His loving 

presence, as it is given undivided attention and focus, will itself bring about 

much of the desired change. As His ways and desires are learned in the Word, 

there is a cleansing that takes place when they are given a loving embrace in 

the spirit of worship. 


	Though maybe a bit unnatural at first, as our flesh may gravitate to just 

doing what comes easiest, in the discipline of study and in allowing His image 

to be formed through association, there is the habit of cleanliness developed. 

The shadows of doubt that cause such confusion and oppression will be removed 

from any part of our habitation as the glorious light of His presence occupies 

every space, removing all unclean or ill placed items. In the discovery of this 

life of holiness, there is the discovery of a peaceful, bonding union with the 

One who has given us His likeness. The joy of unhindered communion far outweighs 

the removal of any useless offending items and our maintained room becomes the 

place of productivity and purpose as there the Father's will is discovered and 

embraced. 



1/03/05