December 1: REFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS and the SANCTUARY (part 3)

You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood. A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width—it shall be square—and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it’s top, its sides all around, and its horns with pure gold… Exodus 30:1-3a

John Calvin, a Frenchman, had been reared and educated for the Catholic priesthood. But his path kept crossing with Protestants; in particular one of his cousins who spoke freely to John of his faith. John had been known to observe the faces of Protestants as they burned at the stake: their countenance was consistently one of peace. He looked upon his life of strict obedience to the teachings of Rome and marveled at his own lack of peace. As he wrestled with the contrast, and the irony of it all, he was eventually convicted of the weight of his own sin. In his solemn contemplations, he could see himself without an intercessor, the very role of Jesus as our High Priest in heaven. Calvin began to truly appreciate the teachings of the Bible for the first time. He saw numerous conflicts between Biblical doctrines and those of Rome. At a later point, he came to be close friends with John Knox, the Scottish reformer. Both men chose to stand with the persecuted, and both had an enormous positive influence upon countless souls. They taught of the special place in the heart of every true Christian for intercessory prayer. This special burden for prayer was made manifest in their writing and preaching. To be Christlike was to own an attitude of earnest, ongoing prayer for the salvation of others. Thus, the precious symbolism of the altar of incense was re-established in the minds of millions.

Let my prayer be set before You as incense… Psalm 141:2a

The enlightening jewels of truth discovered by the various reformers are priceless. Not one of them ever taught their followers to cease searching the Scriptures for the treasures embedded therein. But unfortunately, many of the followers made following their favorite reformer more important than following the Lamb wherever He goes (Revelation 14:4). This is the sad story of persecutions that broke out between various Protestant groups who felt that there was nothing more to learn. But, notwithstanding the hostilities, the work of the Reformation—up to this point—brought light to millions who had been in darkness, and had the effect of highlighting the essential significance of five out of the six articles of furniture in the sanctuary of God:

·         Altar of Sacrifice: Jesus on the cross, sin’s penalty paid to secure forgiveness

·         Laver of Washing: Baptism of repentance and cleansing

·         Table of Showbread: Word of God as spiritual nourishment

·         Golden Lampstand: Witnessing empowered by the Holy Spirit

·         Altar of Incense: Prayers of intercession for others

You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24