The Bible may seem like a bunch of random stories, but this actually is not the case.
The Bible is one big connected story about God’s plan to be with us.
The plan started way back in the Book of Genesis with the Garden of Eden. The Garden of Eden was designed so that God Himself could live with us.
Ultimately sin ruined this, but God hasn’t abandoned us. He designed a rescue plan that we’ve been a part of ever since.
God instructed the Israelites after they escaped Egypt to build a tabernacle and carry it with them wherever they went. This is where God revealed Himself. (Exodus 40:34)
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
All of the Israelites could see this cloud and it comforted them and reassured them.
There was a special room inside the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies; people could not enter this room because of sin and this curtain divided the room from the rest of the tabernacle.
After some time, David, the king of Israel, had decided to build a temple for the Lord.
With the new temple God revealed Himself once again like before. (1 Kings 8:10)
And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord.
Yet again sin ruined this, but it is important to understand that God never left us.
Next, He Brought About His Greatest Gift Ever…
God now came to us personally as Jesus Christ.
He walked and talked with us here on Earth and performed many miracles. He instructed us on how to bring God’s Kingdom to Earth and love all who we came into contact with.
When Jesus died on the cross something so significant and special happened. (Matthew 27:51)
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.
Remember the veil or curtain mentioned from the tabernacle in the Old Testament? Now it had been torn for all to enter and accept Jesus and his once and for all sacrifice.
Now, Jesus did not stay with us here on Earth, He went up to Heaven to be with God. Before He left however, He promised He would send a comforter to be with us.
So Jesus’ disciples and others gathered in this room and waited upon the promised comforter. (Acts 2:3-4)
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues likes as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This event signaled the start of the church as we know it today.
If you remember previously the cloud covering the tabernacle, and then the temple: the “tongues of fire” were God’s way of saying “I’m still with you and I haven’t left you”.
God Was, And Is, Now Residing In Each Of Us…
Finally, when Jesus comes back for the ones who have accepted (loved, obeyed, and followed) Him, we will all dwell in Heaven together! (Revelation 12:3)
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
I am so excited for Heaven my friends, where we will actually talk and walk with God in the flesh!
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