Sanctuary

What comes to mind when you hear the word sanctuary? Do you think of a wildlife preserve set aside for endangered species? Do you think of a place to rest, talk with others, and to feel safe? Do you think of a church sanctuary where you go to worship on Sunday mornings?

The word sanctuary means all of these. It is a place of refuge. It is a place of safety. It is a place of worship. It is a holy place. A sanctuary is a place we can find refuge from our culture and worship without fear of persecution. It is a holy place where we come before God.

But a sanctuary is not the only place we can worship God. Jesus told the woman at the well that we will worship God in spirit and truth without regard of the location (John 4:21-24). Yet, the sanctuary is where we come together in corporate worship to worship God as his people. Our worship includes the reading of Scripture, praying, singing hymns of praise, and hearing a message expounding on the Scriptures.

When Jesus ascended to heaven, He ascended to the true sanctuary. He ascended to the right hand of the Father. He continually appears before the Father on our behalf, being our advocate for forgiveness. His perfect sacrifice continually cleanses us of our sin, not only because He died on a cross, but because He intercedes for us continually.

The sanctuaries of our churches are an imitation of the perfect sanctuary. Not in a physical construction, but in their representation of a refuge from the world we live in. Our sanctuaries are to be safe places. We can come to our sanctuaries to find solace, comfort, rejuvenation, renewal, strength, courage, peace, joy, and love. This is all possible because of the love God has for us and the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

I pray we all know Jesus continually intercedes for us. I pray we see our sanctuaries as a refuge. I pray each one of us will peace, joy, and love when we come into our sanctuaries to worship. Jesus intercedes for you. Find refuge in the sanctuary. Worship God. Find peace, joy, and love.

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.