Believe then See
Jesus meets you where you are desiring to bring peace and perspective to your life.
“Bezalel made the ark...He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. He made the atonement cover of pure gold...Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.”
Exodus 37:1-2, 6-9
God gave very exact directions for how to make the ark where the tablets and sacred covenant would rest. Gold has always had strong meaning to us because of its value and the precious nature. We can likely connect with an atonement cover having walked in the light of the atonement we receive from Jesus blood over our own sins. Why the cherubim? What do those represent to us and to God?
The cherubim have much significance and connections within scripture. Cherubim were seen in heaven and reflect heaven on the ark, they guarded the Garden of Eden and God's holiness, and they are witnesses. What could we learn from the ark that could be applied to our own lives? How could the gold, the atonement, and the cherubim inform our own commitment to our covenant relationship with God and the new heavenly, holy spirit led life we lead with Him?
“The Lord will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.”
Psalms 87:6-7
There is a contrast we can see between life on Earth and life in Heaven. David sings of Zion or a heavenly place where the source of strength and vitality for each person comes from God. How are you feeling today? Do you need more of the fountain of life in you? Is your life marked by the new life you have in Christ?
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income...They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.” Ecclesiastes 5:1, 10-11, 15
What do your prayers sound like? The most common prayer is help me Jesus. Wisdom says to go near to God to listen. Mother Teresa was once asked what she said when she prayed. She said I listen and the reporter asked her what God says. She said He listens.
Much like the cherubim guard the ark, we are meant to guard our hearts. Wisdom says guard your heart from the love of money over the love of God. If our hearts are so full of our own desires, how can we have ears to hear what God desires?
“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death...This is what the Lord says to you, house of David: ‘Administer justice every morning"
Jeremiah 21:8, 12
Have you ever been to a fork in the road? A place of decision. Perhaps you have a decision to make today and are unsure of which way to go. How do you decide which way to go? What are the deciding factors? Truth tells us to use the filter of what will give you life and help the life of another. When we listen to the Lord we will hear justice, righteousness, and faithfulness on repeat. How would using those filters for decision making change the direction you go?
“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance...Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:1, 19, 21-29
Which disciple do you connect with most in the resurrection story? Mary who was faithfully going along but had no expectation of a risen king, Peter who ran into the empty tomb, the group who was so surprised at His appearance, or Doubting Thomas who needed proof before trusting?
The beauty of Jesus is He is the new covenant. Like the ark that held the covenant, He holds the new covenant together in a personal way meeting us where we are, as we are. He is precious and pure as gold, the sinless atonement, dwelled with God in the Garden, and guides each believer to a life of holiness through Him. He does not judge Thomas for needing proof. Rather, He offers up advice if we will go near to listen to His words. He says you will be happier in life if you believe before you see. C.S. Lewis said Faith is not the absence of doubt, but a step in the midst of it.
The most important part of this story is seeing Jesus is the Messiah and that He has come to bring peace to each of us through personal relationship with Him. The point is not that Thomas or others fell short, but that Jesus' love overcomes all barriers. Today is a day to go near to listen to the voice of love, the voice of Jesus, calling you by name, meeting you where you are, and offering the peace that surpasses understanding.