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THE ARK OF GOLD
The Ark of the Covenant sat in the Holy of Holies in the Temple at Jerusalem. The Ark was the place where the Presence of God dwelt. Inside the Ark rested the Ten Commandments, the Showbread, and Aaron’s Rod which budded. The Commandments were representations of the Word of God and His Holy Commandments. The Showbread (shewbread in the King James Version) represented the Bread of Life (Christ).
Aaron’s Rod which budded represented spiritual power and authority through supernatural life in Christ. God instructed Moses to place the Ten Commandments, the Showbread, and Aaron’s Rod which budded into the Ark of the Covenant as a representation of salvation.
The “Showbread” was also known as “presence bread.” It represented the presence of God in the Temple, and especially inside the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was a representation of man, and the ‘presence bread” in the Ark represented the presence of God IN man. Jesus IS the “Bread of Life” who dwells in the heart of every believer. (John 6:35). We “represent Christ” because we carry the presence of God in our “inner most being (heart).”
Aaron’s Rod which supernaturally “budded” was a representation of the Resurrection of Christ. Christ is our High Priest and was supernaturally raised from the dead three days after being crucified at Calvary. We see that everything found inside the Ark of the Covenant represented Christ in one way or another.
In the building of the Ark of the Covenant, God instructed the Ark to be overlaid with gold inside and out. The Ark was to be a type and shadow of man being clothed in and sheltered by the “divine nature of Christ.” Wood is symbolic of mankind, and gold speaks of the “divine nature of Christ.” In essence, the gold being overlaid inside and outside of the wood of the Ark is a prophetic example of the soul of believers being filled with the “divine nature of Christ.”
The gold which was used to overlay the Ark was “pure gold.” It was gold which had been refined by fire and all impurities had been removed. The process of refining gold is a somewhat long and arduous task, but it must be done in order to remove all blemishes and imperfections from the gold. The gold had to be pure just as Christ our Savior is pure and without sin. Likewise, our hearts must be “purified” just as the gold was in order to remove all the impurities and blemishes within our hearts.
Pure gold represents the pureness of the “divine nature” of Christ. The Ark of the Covenant also represented the “Blood Covenant” which we now have with God. The Blood of Christ was sprinkled on the mercy seat of our hearts the moment we received Christ as our Lord and Savior. We have a covenant with God which was ratified by the BLOOD of Jesus some 2000 years ago at Calvary. We become “covenant partners” with God through the shed Blood of Jesus when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.
The Ark of the Covenant was located in the Holy of Holies in the Temple of God. The High Priest would sprinkle the blood of animals on the mercy seat. The mercy seat was located on top of the Ark of the Covenant. The mercy seat was also made of pure gold. The blood of the slain animals was placed on the mercy seat as an atonement for the sins of the people. These blood offerings were all types and shadows of things to come. They were also types and shadows of the Blood of Christ which would be shed on the Cross at Calvary at the appointed time to atone for the sins of all mankind.
The Ark of the Covenant was not the only type and shadow of mankind found within the Temple. The entire Temple of God was a “type and shadow” as well. Everything in the Temple spoke of Christ and how He would pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind. The Bible tells us we are the “Temple of God” if the Holy Spirit dwells within us. (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Everything in the Temple which was made of wood was to be overlaid in gold. All the wood (man) in the Temple was to be covered with gold so that all which could be seen was representative of the “glory or divine nature of Christ.” The walls and floors in the Holy of Holies were overlaid in pure gold.
The Temple in Jerusalem was built as a resting place for the Ark of the Covenant and the “Presence of God” as a type and shadow of things to come. Our spiritual Temples (hearts) have now become the resting place of the Holy Spirit. We become the Temple of God when His Spirit dwells within us. We have become emissaries and ambassadors of His “divine nature” to the world. God’s commandments are now written on our hearts instead of a slab of stone.
Just outside the Temple stood two large pillars of wood which were also overlaid with gold. The “two pillars” did not hold up anything. They were placed there to reflect the light (Light) of the Sun (Son) into a window of the Temple. The pillars were positioned in front of the Temple so the light of the Sun would continually shine through the windows into the Temple.
As Christians we are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The light of the Sun shining in the Temple represented the Light and Life of Jesus, the Son of God. The window represented the “window or eyes of our understanding.” Prophetically, light represents understanding. When the light from the Sun entered through the window of the Temple, it illuminated everything in the Holy Place.
For many Christians the “light of their understanding” is dim because they have sin, doubt, and unbelief in their hearts. Their light is also dim because of their lack of understanding due to inadequate Biblical teaching and training. A lack of understanding will always block the Light of the Son from entering into the eyes of our soul.
When the Light of understanding enters into and becomes established within our hearts, we will find the “divine nature” being revealed and established within us. The power which is imparted to believers through the “divine nature” lies dormant in many believers. ALL Christians are carriers of the “divine nature.” However, many are unaware of the “potential power” which they possess through the Holy Spirit which dwells within them.
The Bible tells us as “overcomers” we are made to be pillars which will reflect the “divine nature” into the Temple of God.” (Revelation 3:12). As Christians we are to become pillars which reflect the divine nature through the window of the Temple of God, our spirit. As individuals we are each a “Temple of the Holy Spirit.” Corporately, as the Body of Christ, we all make up THE Temple of God in the New Jerusalem as we reflect the “divine nature” of the Son.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy, ch. 2, vs. 20-21.
Purging and cleansing ourselves of things which dishonor our spiritual house will allow the virtues of the “divine nature” to have preeminence in our lives. When the “divine nature” has preeminence, we will become vessels of honor fit for the Master’s use. If we have not purged ourselves of everything and anything which brings reproach upon His name, we will not be effective witnesses of Christ.
We are all called to be examples of Christ to the World. If we are not portraying Christ in all we do, we could be profaning our Holy Temple and dishonoring God. We have been bought with a great price, the greatest price ever paid—the Blood and Life of Christ. In Christ our lives are no longer our own, and we should be validating and proving that we belong to Christ by virtue of our motives and attitudes.
We will all go through many tests and trials in life. Many of the tests and trials of life are designed to bring us into a “closer relationship with Christ.” They will also help to consummate and effectuate the “divine nature” within us.
When we find our faith being tested and tried, we know we are going through the process of being refined. The Bible says to “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-3). Many of the tests and trials we face in life are designed to build patience and faith within our hearts. Patience is one of the virtues of the “divine nature of Christ.”