“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.” (Heb. 9:11)

Not of this building – the Greek word for “building” is “ktisis” in all other cases translated as creature or reaction. There is a greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not of this Adamic, earthy creation.

“But I say unto you, That in this place is One greater than the temple,” (Matt. 12:6). For the Lord of the temple was in their midst, and they knew Him not. He offered a way of LIFE, a life in the Spirit which superceded all the ordinances and rituals of their systems of worship.

Greater – Greek, “meizon” from the root “megas,” a million times. This denotes the tremendous superiority of the “greater and more perfect tabernacle.” Just as the figure of speech would say it is a million times better. One cannot even make a comparison between the first order and the second, for one is of the flesh, earth, and the other is of the Spirit, heavenly.

More perfect – “teleios,” ended, brought to the full, complete. It is also the word that is used in Matt. 5:48, “be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” It is perfection that is required for the whole man, for “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless.”(1 Thess. 5:23).

2 Peter 1:14 says, “I must put off my tabernacle.” Not only must all of the flesh works, observances, rituals, forms, ceremonies have to go, but even the body itself, this first tabernacle must give way for a new, a greater, a more perfect tabernacle. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, age-during in the heavens.” (2 Cor. 5:1).

“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body.” (Phil. 3:21). His body is the blueprint, the form and substance, the greater and more perfect, into which we are thus to be changed . To be “in Christ, a new creature (building).” (2 Cor. 5:17).

“I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; one shall be taken, and the other left. Two shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:34-36)

The positive and the negative are both unfolding in this hour. With a positive application we find that though there shall be “two resting in the same place same church home, same doctrinal blanket covering them, yet one is taken out, called forth unto Him without the Camp, to bear His reproach, being conformed to His own image, while the other one is left to sleep on yet awhile. Two are grinding at the mill, grinding out the programs and ceremonies of the flesh, when suddenly the eyes of one are opened, they see the emptiness of it all, and are led forth by the Spirit to lay hold of pure reality, and yet the other one is left to grind on in blind obedience to the religious institutional systems. Two are out in the field, labouring hard, and God lays hold of one, sets him aside for spiritual development, while the other is left to toil on building the kingdoms of men.

It appears that the negative application is more literal and natural in fulfillment, while the positive application as presented is a spiritual fulfillment. Of the natural we read that when the earth is to be reaped, God gathers “first the tares.” (Matt.13:30). Binding them in bundles to be burned. Then He gathers His wheat into His garner.

In the positive, spiritual application, His remnant is now being drawn out first – firstfruits of the new creation order. Thus, there is depth on depth of meaning in the Scriptures, as the Spirit quickens our understanding. One is taken, the other is left. What is the deciding factor as to who is to be called out, to move into a new realm with God, while the other remains in that spirit of slumber and blindness? Is this not an election of God? A divine choosing according to His grace! O, take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. ‘Draw me, we will run after Thee.” (Song of Solomon 1:4).

“Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby Thou didst confirm Thine inheritance, when it was weary.” (Psalm 68:9)

When we read the challenge – “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5), then we really wonder, are we able to follow onward, and come through all of the increasing pressure and tension of these times? Will we survive the dealings of God, and become His inheritance? If it means “by our own strength,” the answer is, “No, we cannot make it.” But when we remember that we are GOD’s HANDIWORK, and that He will refresh us when we are weary, then we commit ourselves to His keeping, and know His abiding peace.

He has, He does, and He will confirm His inheritance. The word “confirm” is the Hebrew word “hun” which is literally threefold in its meaning: to be formed, prepared, established. All of the formation is His. All of the establishing is His. Yes, the inheritance is HIS. And Paul prayed that “the eyes of our understanding being enlightened: that we may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of HIS INHERITANCE in the saints.” (Ephesians 1:18).

Of the being weary, we need not comment, for this experience comes to us all, but of the refreshings which He imparts, in that we rejoice and would hold before us. For “He that stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

Confirmations come in many ways, an inner quickening, a word from a friend, a dream in the night, a word that leaps from the page as we read His Word. It matters not the ways and means that are used, the joy is He knows just when we need that encouragement, and He will refresh and strengthen, until we are fully established in Him. “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” (Psalms 1:38:8).