A Sanctuary Blueprint for Your Health

God no longer dwells in a tent made by hands; He has chosen to make His home in the heart that honors Him and the body that He sustains.

As I start to write, my mind scrambles to figure out how to place into words what is on my heart. Many things run through my head, and I wonder how to put them on paper. But God always comes through with ideas and ways to articulate them. My words may not be perfect, but I pray that God makes them meaningful to those who read them.

While reading through the Bible recently, one specific verse gave me cause to write:

"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." — Exodus 25:8

As I studied the descriptions given to the children of Israel, I realized that today, that sanctuary is no longer a tent or a building made with hands. Instead, it represents our very lives. We have become the temple where God desires to dwell. As the Scripture says:

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" — 1 Corinthians 6:19

Let us look at the furniture of the Biblical sanctuary and see how each piece applies to us—both physically and spiritually.

The Outer Court: Repentance and Cleansing

• The Altar of Burnt Offering: This represents our confession. Spiritually, we lay down our sins; physically, we acknowledge the "incorrect ways" we have treated our bodies. It is a time to be forgiven and to start fresh.

  • "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

• The Laver: This represents renewal. Spiritually, it is the washing of baptism. Physically, it is the vital necessity of drinking pure water to cleanse our internal systems and keep the temple pure.

  • "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5)

The Holy Place: Daily Sustenance

• The Table of Shewbread: This represents nutrition. We must feed on God’s Word spiritually, and eat healthy, life-giving foods physically to sustain the temple.

  • "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

• The Altar of Incense: This represents prayer. Spiritually, our prayers rise to God. Physically, this represents our breath—taking in clean air and using our breath to speak words of life and praise.

  • "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." (Psalm 141:2)

• The Golden Lampstand: This represents light and oil. Spiritually, it is the Holy Spirit shining through us. Physically, it reminds us to consume healthy fats, like olive oil, which fuel our brains and bodies so our light doesn't dim.

  • KJV Reference: "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." (Proverbs 6:23)

The Most Holy Place: The Presence of the King

The Most Holy Place contains the Ark of the Covenant, representing God’s judgment, His presence, and His law. Here, God provides the power and mercy to help us overcome both physically and spiritually.

• "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

A Call to Commitment

Jesus will come soon to take us home, and I want to be ready when that judgment comes. Now is the time to prepare; we must not wait. I am making a personal commitment today to not only guard my heart but to honor God with my physical health. I want to be a vessel that is pure and ready for the Master to use for His glory.

A Prayer of Commitment

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You for the gift of this body and the indwelling of Your Spirit. I confess that I have not always treated this temple with the respect it deserves. Today, I commit to cleansing both my spirit and my physical habits. Wash me, feed me with Your Word, and let Your light shine through me. Make me a fit vessel, ready and willing to do Your work as I prepare for Your soon return.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Your 5 Action Steps

1. Reflect: Identify one physical habit (such as your diet, lack of water, or rest) that is currently hindering your "temple" from functioning at its best.

2. Repent: Spend time in daily prayer at your "altar of incense," confessing where you have fallen short and seeking God’s strength to change.

3. Restore: Start every morning with a glass of pure water and a verse of Scripture to reminding us of the cleansing of the Laver and the nourishment of the Shewbread.

4. Fuel: Choose one "oil" or "healthy fat" (like olive oil or nuts) to add to your diet this week, remembering that the Lampstand needs pure fuel to keep the light of the Holy Spirit burning bright.

5. Audit: Look at your daily schedule and remove one thing that causes "clutter" in your Most Holy Place, making more room for God's presence and peace.

Our bodies are the only place on earth where God has chosen to reside. Let us treat them with the holiness and care that His presence demands.

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