Smaller than my Desk

Scripture: They are to make an ark of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. Exodus 25:10

Observation: The first instruction given to Moses for building the tabernacle is not actually for the tabernacle, but rather for the ark upon which the Lord will sit when meeting with Moses. These are its measurements ... 3 feet 9 inches wide, but 2 feet 3 inches deep and tall.

Application: By comparison, the desk I'm sitting at right now is about the same depth as the ark, but 5 feet wide and close to 3 feet tall. The ark just wasn't very large.

I have thought often recently about the ark. I am one of those people who believes it still exists somewhere, and that its future public reveal will begin a new era of faith, either with great revival or perhaps part of the great tribulation. There are a couple places that claim they have the ark and won't ever let anyone see it, and I'm not sure I believe any of them are telling the truth. I do understand that the ark was not documented as one of the treasures taken by the Babylonians during the fall of Jerusalem, and therefore not destroyed at the time of the exile (and also therefore not returned for the reconstruction of the temple).

I like to think the ark still exists, but I also know that ... it really doesn't matter. While there would be significance if it resurfaced, there wouldn't be any negative significance to it not resurfacing. My faith has nothing to do with the ark, nor does my hope in the Lord, nor my expectations for Jesus' second coming. The ark is a tangential element I like to think upon, but that isn't part of any core element of my belief.

I feel like there are many elements of "faith" that should be described like that ... interesting to think upon, but not core to belief ... and issues arise when we do make them 'core'. I don't need to list all of these, but they certainly occupy a great amount of conversation and attention among believers. And the fact is, compared to the greatness of God, the love of Jesus, and the value of our faith, these issues are all just ... small, certainly smaller than we might think they are, and smaller than even the normal "stuff" we are supposed to be focused on in our everyday walk with the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I do love the idea of the ark reemerging one day. I wonder upon what might happen in the world if this were to occur. However, I also know that such an event doesn't really matter in comparison to the wonderous things you already do every day, and the way in which you love us. I thank you and honor you today, Lord, for your greatness and splendor. Amen.