Since becoming the pastor here at PSBC, I’ve written a few articles on Sanctuary and the power of Sanctuary. I received an email this morning that led me back to “Sanctuary” in my thoughts for this article. The email was just a regular advertising email about a new clothing line with a particular athletic brand, featuring athlete Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. They called it a Sanctuary Collection, saying it was inspired by Johnson’s farm where he goes to “block out the noise and build up strength.”
The advertisement included this quote from Johnson: “You have to protect the thing that allows you to do what you do. Whatever that thing is–that’s your sanctuary. That’s your anchor.”
You have to protect the thing that allows you to do what you do…are you sure Dwayne? I know what he means, but I’m not sure that captures the fullness of sanctuary. At no offense to Mr. Johnson (and he’s a very large human-being so I certainly mean that), I think that’s an incomplete view.
An earthly sanctuary that needs our protection is just a vessel. It can be a vessel that brings you great peace, hope, etc…but if you anchor all your strength, all of you, to something of this earth that can be sold, taken away, or destroyed in some way, that’s dangerous.
If something were to happen to our beautiful church building we call a sanctuary, we would be hurt. It would not be an enjoyable process… but, we would rebuild, and in the meantime, we would find somewhere to worship. Our sanctuary in Jesus allows us to worship in our heart; in other words, we have the power to worship the God of the Universe right where we read this article. Our sanctuary is based on the eternal hope and strength of Jesus, not one location.
We all have places or buildings that bring us peace and strength. The key is to keep those places in the correct order…behind the sanctuary we find in our hearts. The sanctuary we have to worship the King of Kings in a crowded room or sitting alone beside a flowing stream. Let’s take time to worship today. Thank Him for the opportunity to enter our own personal sanctuary at any moment.
Hebrews 6:19-20
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.
He has become a high priest forever…”
Grace and peace,
Aaron pastoraaronhinton@gmail.com
(704) 300-0081