EXODUS 27:9-21 RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS Any person approaching the Tabernacle would notice from quite a distance there was a pure white barrier surrounding the building. The fence was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide and had one entrance, a colored gate as the only way of entrance. The cords holding the fence to brass pins driven into the ground, could be seen on the outside. Perhaps the silver rods joining the posts into one strong stable unit, could be seen as well as the silver hooks holding the hangings up and keeping them from sagging. Whenever we approach God, we need to remember the value and great worth of the righteousness of Christ. He is "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens." The testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ is the same outside from the world view as it is inside from the heavenly view. He is holy before men and is holy before God.
The fence was set up in such a way on the pillars and fillets that the hanging linen curtains would be even all around the court. There were no places lower than other places. Even the colorful gate was the same height. There was only one way of approach to God. The Lord Jesus Christ is perfect and even in every way. The "righteousness of Christ" stands out in contrast to our righteousness. "Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." The very best we could ever produce is unclean. The perfect righteousness of Christ shut us out from God completely. But "Christ our righteousness is sacrificed for us." We can make our way around that holy separating barrier to where the gate is before us. Thank God there is a gate.
The four colors of the gate point us to the Gospel presented in four ways by four different writers. Matthew presents Christ as the King of Israel in his Gospel written to the Jews. The purple, a royal color, speaks to us that in Matthew, the Gospel is mainly a reference to the Gospel of the kingdom. Matthew was one of the writers who had seen and heard the Lord Jesus when He was here and testified as to what He knew personally.
Mark's presentation of the Gospel is that of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Perfect Servant. He was One who served God in perfect obedience to God's will and served men as a lowly Man. He would have written what he heard from others, probably Peter mostly. The Holy Spirit presents Christ as the Suffering Servant typified by the scarlet in the gate hanging. The Gospel as Mark presents is the Gospel to the Romans who were aggressively controlling the nation of Israel. This speaks to me of the Gospel of the grace of God. How gracious of God to allow those who persecuted His people to be partakers of the blessings of God's great grace.
Luke also was not an eyewitness of the life and work of Christ when He was on earth. With a thorough evaluation of events he got from others who were there, he gives a number of important events that are not in other accounts. Luke's Gospel presents Christ as the Perfect Man who pleased God in every way. As a Man among men, He is represented as a shining example of human perfection. The Lord Jesus is typified in the fine twined linen, white and pure in His nature that was never defiled by His life here. He knew no sin, in Him is no sin, He did no sin. He is eternally pure. Luke's Gospel to the Greeks would remind us that the Gospel is an everlasting Gospel, unchangeable in its message and the blessings that come from it.
The Gospel according to John presents the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God sent from heaven, typified in the blue, when "the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." John was an eyewitness of all the Lord Jesus did and taught right from the day he heard, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Beside the Jews, Romans and Greeks, there was another group of people to whom the Gospel was especially precious. They were the true believers who came to be known as "Christians." John's personal approach to the Gospel message portrays Christ in seven ways, seven examples, seven miracles, seven titles as "the Son of God." This too was typified in the color blue in the gate.
All of the six pillars holding up the hanging curtains kept them stable with the brass pins and sockets holding them The Lord Jesus is the One who provides stability to what is seen from the outside. He is unchanging and His righteousness is consistent in spite of what people try to say about Him today. "We change, He changes not." "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever."
The oil beaten out of the olives reminds us that more than being pressed, the Lord Jesus Christ was beaten and the light-giving oil of the Holy Spirit came after that oil was extracted. The finest oil was beaten the most so impurities were all gone that it might give the brightest light. There was enough oil produced to give light constantly in the place where God dwelt with His people. "He giveth not the Spirit by measure." The Righteousness of Christ is obvious from without to the world and all who seek to approach God. The Holiness of Christ is before us as we think of the light that has come to us through His suffering.
Righteousness seems out of vogue in these days in which we live. People want laws changed to suit whatever slant they want to give To pleasures they seek or work they do so an awakened conscience they can salve. If that can be done then there can be made a blur between what is good and bad.
The standard of righteousness has never changed as far as God is concerned. There are no changes in standards He made, no righteousness from which He turned. Our Lord Jesus Christ in whatever place or event we see Him, remains evermore the same.
His character and words of truth stay consistent to the authority of His name.
Sin and righteousness can never blend; it will always be one or the other. Holiness and worldliness can't be mixed in any way together. Amidst all the changes being made, righteousness and holiness are consistent. There can be no compromise between light and dark, even though the world is so persistent.
The fence is there hanging pure and white, visible in the day and night. Righteousness seen in Christ by all is never really lost to sight. People have searched for ways to discredit Him to make excuses for sin. But purity and holiness seen in His character never will grow dim.
As we draw near to praise and worship, and give thank-offerings to Him - There is that multicolored gate to lift so that in faith we enter in. Through that gate alone is the way we have access unto God. The first thing that we are reminded of is redemption through Christ's blood.
The world stays outside the fence thinking that place is close enough. People want to get in close proximity but want all their "own stuff." The songs they sing, the order of things is done to please the worldly man. Religious feelings and practices they want, but avoid God Himself not wanting the demands.
"Father, the practice and principle of separation I can understand and appreciate. There is no question that those who want religion without submission to the holiness and righteousness of Christ are lost. Many are around us here who have the forms but not the substance because they will not come Thy way. I thank Thee that the Spirit of God has led me to the gate and to the altar. May Thy servant be clean and able to offer Thee priestly sacrifices today. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."