THE PATTERN

“Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” This was the message that God gave to Moses for the children of Israel. We have already found what is the Lord’s real sanctuary, and where He most delights to dwell. “Ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.” The tabernacle in the wilderness was built to teach God’s people what He would have them be.

God is very particular about His dwelling place. He did not leave it to the people to choose what kind of sanctuary to build, and to make what they thought best. He called Moses up into the mount, and there He showed him a pattern of all things that He wanted them to make. And He said: “See that thou make them after their pattern, which hath been showed thee in the mount.”

It was very important that everything should be like the pattern God had shown to Moses. But it was not enough for the people to see and know all that God wanted them to do. It was not possible for them to do the work, and make everything as He would have it, without special help from Him. He chose the ones that were to do the work, and He said to Moses:—

“See, I have called by name Bezaleel, the son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee.”

God filled the people with His Spirit, and this is what gave them wisdom and power to do the work, and to make everything just like the pattern.

Last week we learned that each one of you is a little sanctuary, an house not made with hands, but growing into an holy temple for God to dwell in. Now do you know that He has given you a pattern, to show you just how you are to grow? He sent His own Son from heaven, that we might have a perfect pattern of the dwelling place that He wants on this earth.

Do you remember that Jesus said, “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” “The Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.” And again: “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father doing: for what things soever He doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.”

God the Father is Himself the perfect pattern, the true heavenly Sanctuary. He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” And so each member of the human family, made in His image and filled with His life, was to be a little sanctuary, a perfect copy of our Father who is in heaven.

But you know how man through sin lost the beautiful image in which he was first made. Then Jesus, who is “the image of the invisible God,” came down to earth to show us again the pattern like which God would have each of His human temples grow. All that the Father is, and all that He does, Jesus showed to men, that we might know what we may be and do, when God dwelleth in us. But this He could do only because He was the Son of God, and the Spirit of His Father dwelt in Him.

So God has shown us the pattern; He has shown us His own glory and beauty in the life of Jesus Christ His Son. Just what He would have each little child to be was seen when Jesus was a little child. He left us an example—a pattern- “that we should follow His steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.”

In His Word He says to us, “Be ye imitators of God as dear children.” The word here used is the Greek word mimic. You know what it is to imitate or mimic another,—it is to do just what you see him do.

Have you not seen your little baby brother or sister imitate your mother or father, or try to do all that they see you do? All young animals learn by mimicry,—by imitating their parents. This is the way that the little birds learn to fly, and the baby ducks to swim. The old birds show them what they should do, and the young ones try to follow their parents’ example.

But the reason why they can follow the example of their parents, and imitate them, is because they are their own young ones,—they have the same nature. The little chickens could never learn to swim, no matter how hard they might try to follow the example of the ducks and swans. And the young ducks could never mount up like the eaglets, no matter how much they might stretch and spread their little wings in imitation of the old eagles.

And so it is only the children of God, those who have His own nature, who can copy the Pattern, and be and do as He is and does. “What things sover He doeth, these the son also doeth in like manner.” We are to be imitators of Him as His dear children.

So it is not enough for us to see the Pattern, to learn what Jesus did when He was a little child, and then try to imitate Him. We must have His Divine nature before we can copy the Pattern and grow like Him. And we can get this only by the gift of His own Holy Spirit. Like His people of old, we can make all things like the pattern only by being filled with the Spirit of God, and this He has promised to give to all who ask Him.

Of the boy Jesus we are told that “the child grew, and waxed strong in Spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.” So may the grace of God be upon you, dear children, His Spirit filling you, and His hand over you, to form you into His perfect image, in all things like the Pattern He has shown you.

The words of King David to his son Solomon who was about to build a magnificent temple for the Lord, are for each one of you also: “Take heed, now: for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.”

God has chosen you that you should grow into His own beautiful image to be “an house for the sanctuary.” He has shown you the pattern like which you are to grow, and has given you His Holy Spirit that you may “be strong, and do it.” Do not disappoint Him, but “grow up unto Him in all things,” to the praise of the glory of His grace.

The Present Truth – September 19, 1901
E J Waggoner

The Kings House The Pattern