Golden Intervals (#150 of 365+)

When I was a teen, I had a vivid dream about being a fugitive. The United States was under the control of a powerful antichrist and my life was in grave danger because I was a believer. I tried to
think quickly of where I could safely hide out for a while. The first place that came to mind was my bed at home. No, no, no, I wasn’t planning to crawl in and pull the covers over my head until all the monsters went away! What I remembered about my bed was that it had side bookshelves and big center cabinets with a mirror, which created a hidden space near the floor between the head of the mattress and the wall. No one but me knew about that secret place. I was able to hide there—barely breathing with my heart pounding in my chest—as the authorities rifled through the house and tore through some walls. I had found a good temporary refuge.

“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5)

Historically, a sanctuary has been the place where fugitives would run to for immunity. Because it was considered a sacred space, hardly anyone would dare break in to make an arrest. The fugitives might as well have been hidden deep in the Himalayas—they were that untouchable. In today’s church a sanctuary is just a building set aside for corporate worship. But the original idea of a sanctuary was a little different. The tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple in Jerusalem were built using God’s own blueprints. The design reflected a heavenly reality that we just weren’t ready to fully understand yet… until Jesus Christ died and rose again.

God himself is the sanctuary who keeps believers safe from the Accuser of sin (1 John 5:18; Revelation 12:10). The covering of Christ’s blood has exonerated me from all guilt (Galatians 3:27). Since there is no longer a veil of separation, I can freely enter into the holiest place (Mark 15:38) and nothing will ever be able to tear me away from his protection and love (Romans 8:38-39).

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Rev 21:22)

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4)

Lord, you are my Refuge and my Rock. Thank you for granting me eternal security. In this life may I remember to take regular breaks to enjoy “golden intervals” of rest in your presence. Amen.