THE HEAVENLY PATTERN by C. H. Keslake

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 31, 1900

THE HEAVENLY PATTERN.

By C. H. Keslake

C. H. KESLAKE. (New Brunswick, N. J.)

“SEE, . . . that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.” Heb. 8 : 5.

This referred to the sanctuary which Moses was to build. He was to make it in every particular after a pattern showed to him. The pattern itself was the heavenly sanctuary.

When God gave instructions to Moses regarding the building of the sanctuary, the reason given for its construction was that the Lord might dwell among them. This was its primary object. Yet, as we all know, it was also used for the work of the priesthood, and that was in relation to sin.

Now it is perfectly plain that had it not been for sin, there never would have been any need for such a structure as Moses was to build. Where God intended to dwell originally was in man. Man’s heart was to be the temple for God to dwell in; and when that “temple” was made, it was made after a “pattern.” “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Every part of this “house” was absolutely perfect when it came from the hands of the Creator. But when sin came in, this beautiful structure was cast down—fallen and ruined. And yet God did not leave it. That which he purposed from eternity he will carry out. Accordingly, the plan of salvation, previously devised, was set in operation as soon as man fell. From that time the work of restoration and cleansing has been going on.

In the sanctuary above Christ has been ministering as high priest, in order that this human “sanctuary” might be thoroughly cleansed, and made fit for the indwelling of God’s own holy presence. And as we have seen, when the work in heaven is finished, it will be because the work on earth has been finished.

Now, in all the years that this work has been going on, God has never taken his mind off from us. We—his house—have been the particular object of his attention, and all things in heaven and in earth have been made subservient to this one aim. Not even Christ—the outshining of God’s glory—was excepted. Yea, it will be true of Christ in this respect, as in all else, “Without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1 : 3. “The counsel of peace shall be between them both.” Zech. 6 : 13.

When David was king over Israel, and the land had rest, his mind was exercised in reference to God’s house. He remembered that from the days of the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness to his time, God’s dwelling place had been “within curtains”—referring to the sanctuary that Moses built; and he determined to build God a permanent dwelling place. 2 Sam. 7 : 1, 2. But this was not as God would have it; and so we read, “Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou [David] build me an house for me to dwell in? . . . The Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house.” Verses 5–11. Concerning the one through whom God would do this, the Lord says, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son.” Doubtless many, giving this only a cursory reading, will understand it to refer to Solomon and the temple he should build. And so it did in a limited sense; but the fullness of God’s thought in this matter was not in Solomon, nor in the house he should build, but in CHRIST; for thus it is spoken of Christ by the Holy Ghost, quoting this very language in 2 Samuel: “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” Heb. 1 : 5.

As, therefore, Christ is the Son referred to in the promise to David, so also are “we” the house that God would build and cleanse and make a habitation for himself. “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Eph. 2 : 22.

And in it all, and through it all, the pattern after which his work is to be accomplished is Christ.