That's One Tough Tent

Scripture: When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests carried them up. 2 Chronicles 5:4-5

Observation: It is somewhere around 500 years from the time in the wilderness to the reign of Solomon. During all this time, the tent of meeting still exists. This is a tent made from yarns and silks and fabric and animal skins, with embroidery and art. It has been splashed with blood, and set up in the elements of the desert for years at a time, and other times it has been put up and taken down repeatedly. There is no possible way that the tent of meeting should still exist. Yet here it is.

Application: There are so many reasons to believe in God through evidence, and the tent of meeting is one of them. Its very existence is a miracle. That is it so casually mentioned here is evidence of great faith ... the idea that "of course the tent still exists, it is the tabernacle of Yahweh!"

I cannot comprehend how others do not believe. Yet, as a believer, I cannot comprehend how and why I fail to obey so often. I sin, and know I sin, and I do it despite full belief in God, his laws and precepts, and the price paid for my salvation. So which is worse, to reject evidence and faith, or to embrace faith then disobey?

I am convicted of my failures. I do know I am forgiven, and it is only by that fact that I can find hope. This is the great promise of Jesus, then ... hope. Without this, my life would be empty even with the love of God, because I would simply know my impending judgment.

Prayer: Lord, it is only by your love, and not my actions, that I can have any hope in my life. Your love is so amazing, so powerful, so substantial, and so undeserved by me. Please forgive my sins this day, and every day, so I can continued to live in your love and hope and peace. Thank you, father. Amen.