Enter Into His Presence

  

Image from Photo Bucket

The four youngest and I made a trip to Big Spring yesterday. That's only about 45 minutes east of here. The reason for our trip? The Tabernacle Experience. I had been told about it by a friend, and she will have my undying gratitude. 

Of course, it goes without saying that I got lost. The kids just take that in stride now. I had looked at a map and everything, but despite the "best laid plans of mice and men" we ended up on the far eastern edge of the city. After stopping for directions, we drove straight there. :)

I don't know what I expected to see, but I must say that it wasn't that impressive when I pulled into the parking lot. They had set up in a big graveled area. There were three sided tents where you first went to sign in and pay. ($20 maximum for a family) They gave us handouts and directed us to the reading tent to await our turn. We decided to stand outside the tent and I read the brochure aloud to everyone. It was a pretty thorough read about the history and particulars of the Tabernacle. Also included, was the testimony of the woman the Lord had called to begin this ministry. It was a precious story of how the Lord asked her to glorify Him through this task.

The children were very patient as we waited, probably about 45 minutes, for our turn.

When at last we were called, we went to the tent where they fitted us with earphones to listen to the audio tour on mp3 players. Elizabeth and Ben shared one, Josh and Rebekah another, and I had my own. We were then directed to the opening in the outer courtyard.

They spaced each group out so that no one inside was doing exactly the same thing at the same time. I mention this because Elizabeth and Ben were a little ahead of the rest of us. 

As we entered the outer courtyard, a beautiful song began to play in Hebrew and a feeling of holy reverence entered each of us. The song was followed by an introduction of what we would see and do inside the Tabernacle and then a brief history of its construction.

Each of the stages visited during the tour is filled with so much symbolism. 

Christ is Everywhere. 

Even though the articles are only representations of the glorious originals, I was amazed how emotive each was.  It was so very precious to watch the children reverently listen and follow the instructions. 

We progressed through each of the stations in the outer courtyard, then entered the Holy Place. It was very sobering. As our eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, the sounds, smells, and sights washed over our spirits. The articles in the Holy Place filled us with awe. I could see it on the faces of my children. They understood so much of what they were seeing and hearing. As we were going through each of the instructions on the narrative, Elizabeth and Ben were still ahead of us. 

I was unprepared for what happened next. Their audio instructed them to enter the Holy of Holies. I watched them timidly approach the curtain. I began to weep seeing them draw aside it and enter. My children were being ushered into His very Presence in such a beautiful way. I began to pray:

Oh Lord, may they always seek to be in Your Presence. May they always seek to gaze upon Your Face. May each of our children long to enter Your Holy of Holies and dwell there forever.

After listening to the description of the Ark of the Covenant, we were invited to simply worship. Such a precious time.

The very last thing on the audio was a beautiful song called "The Outer Courts are Not Enough." We stood in the outer courtyard and just worshiped. Of course, I was weeping. 

None of us wanted it to be over.

(Thankfully, they provided for that. I bought three cd's: Messianic worship in Hebrew, the one that had the last song, and the complete audio tour! We listened to the Hebrew Messianic worship cd all the way home to Midland!) 

The reality is that it isn't over. Because of what Christ accomplished on the Cross, we never have to leave the Presence of our Holy God. We just have to choose to never take our eyes off His Face.

Lord, 

May we hunger and thirst for You and You alone. May nothing in this world satisfy us. May we be ravenous, never sated, for Your very Self, Indwelling and permeating every corner of our spirits. May we seek You night and day, with every breath we take. May the Aroma of Christ fill our senses. May the Glory of Your Face fill our eyes. May the Light of Your Presence fill our minds. Drive out everything that hinders Your complete dominion over our mind, will, and emotions. May we, who with unveiled faces all reflect Your Glory, continue to be transformed into Your Likeness with the ever-increasing glory, which comes from You.