I was convicted as I read the final chapter of the book of Exodus recently. It’s the culmination of several chapters that provide a detailed description of the furniture and construction of the tabernacle.
God gave elaborate instructions for building the ark of the covenant and the surrounding furniture: the altar of incense, lampstand, table of showbread, bronze wash basin, altar of burnt offering, and various curtains. Every detail had to be followed, and no compromises were allowed.
The Israelites were faithful in carrying out their assignments. We’re told that “Moses proceeded to do everything just as the Lord had commanded him” (Exodus 40:16), and eventually “Moses finished the work” (v. 33).
Good things happen when we follow God’s instructions, and that’s exactly what the Israelites experienced once the work was completed:
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34).
Notice how significant this was. If the tabernacle had not been filled with God’s glorious presence, it would have merely been like an intriguing museum or a fancy mausoleum.
God’s supernatural presence made all the difference, and it clearly was not just for show. It became their GPS, displayed as a cloud by day and fire by night:
“The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey. If the cloud was not taken up, they did not set out until the day it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages if their journey” (Exodus 40:37-38).
Just as Jesus did nothing unless He saw the Father doing it (John 5:19), the Israelites only moved when God moved. This should serve as an inspiring lesson for our own journey of faith.
Pentecostal Fire
After Moses finished work on the tabernacle, God’s fire and glory came. In a parallel way, Jesus said “It is finished” as He hung on the cross (John 19:30). And 50 days after His resurrection, the fire of God’s presence came to the church as “tongues like flames of fire” rested on each of the praying believers (Acts 2:1-4).
Sadly, however, something happened to the church’s fire as the years went by. The apostle Paul’s warning has come to pass, as many people today are “holding to the form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5).
Tragically, if the fire is no longer present, all we have left is the furniture. It may be reformed furniture, evangelical furniture, or even charismatic furniture. But unless we have more than religious artifacts and activities, we’re in danger of mirroring Jesus’ warning to the church in Sardis, “You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1-2). How sobering!
No matter how beautiful our religious “furniture” is, it will be lifeless and powerless unless the fire of God’s presence and glory returns once again.
A Glorious Church
There’s a terrifying name in the Old Testament, given by the wife of Phineas to her newborn son in 1 Samuel 4:21. She named him Ichabod, which means “The glory has departed.”
I’ve visited hundreds of churches over the years, and I’ve thought this might be an apt description of some of them. While a few vestiges of Biblical Christianity can still be seen, these churches have become all furniture and no fire.
I often get depressed over this realization, and I think we all should. Yet God isn’t finished with us. Paul not only warned of our tendency toward empty religion, but he also provided some very good news about our future:
“Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Do you see how amazing this is? Instead of being branded as Ichabod, Paul says the church will once again be glorious. The fire of God’s presence will shine so brightly that no one will pay much attention to the furniture.
Hilariously, the first impulse of the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration was to build some new furniture. But by the end of the story their perspective had changed, and “they only saw Jesus” (Matthew 17:1-8). That sounds like a wonderful outcome, doesn’t it?
J – poignant and very clear picture of many of our personal and church situations. Thank you for encouraging us to take stock in our furniture and our degree of fire. db
Peter didn’t know what to do when the glory seemed to depart. He wanted to make a tent so it would come back again, not yet realizing that the glory remained in Jesus.
Thank you, Jim, for your bravery in stating such painful truths. May we each do what we can to make a difference in our churches.