THE SANCTUARY by Alexander MacLaren

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 13, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 33.

THE SANCTUARY.

By Alexander MacLaren

THE holy place, like the most holy, was screened off by a curtain, which we now pass into the outer courts. That was the place for the people, and contained two articles, both of which derived their significance from the one solemn fact that man is separated from God by sin. There was a laver "between the tent of meeting and the altar," and still farther outwards there was the altar of burnt-offering. With that altar all access to God began then in symbol, with what that altar shadowed all access to God in reality begins. It is not survival from an effete and rude ritual which proclaims that "without shedding of blood is no remission." The heart of the Gospel is that Christ's death makes access to the Holiest of all possible, and nothing else makes it possible. We must first betake ourselves to the altar of sacrifice, and then be cleansed in "the laver of regeneration," before we can lift the heavy curtain shutting us out from the place where a priestly people kindles its incense of praise, trims its lamp of holy living, and offers all its works to God. The removal of the guilt that puts a gulf between God and us, which none but He can bridge, and which can be removed only by the death that takes away the sin of the world, must be followed by the baptism in the Holy Ghost which cleanses from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Then the way into the holy place is open for us here and now, and in due time the worshipers there will pass into the holiest of all, and dwell forever in the light of the glory between the cherubim. The steps as from within outwards are three,—the ark of the testimony, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt-offering. God comes out and down to us by these. By the same must we go up and go in to Him.—Alexander MacLaren D.D., in S. S. Times.