Every item and activity of Christian worship, whether of the liturgical practices, church architecture, preaching and teaching, supernatural manifestations and so forth have as their supreme objective the writing of the law of God in our mind and heart. Our goal is not to go to Heaven as to a place. This is not scriptural, although Heaven is, of course, a place. Rather our goal is to have fellowship with God. Fellowship with God is possible only as we are being transformed into His moral image.

We like to think of Paradise, of joy, of peace, of love. These are important goals but they are secondary. The primary goal is transformation into the moral image of God, and all of our thinking and behavior must be directed toward this supreme end.

At one time there were three articles in the Ark of the Covenant. But when Solomon came to put the Ark in the Temple he had built, only the Ten Commandments remained. The dedication of Solomon's Temple typifies the coming down from Heaven of the new Jerusalem, the eternal tabernacle of God.

There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. (I Kings 8:9—NIV)

Previously the memorial jar of manna had been in the Ark, along with Aaron's rod that budded and the tablets of stone. But when the Christian Church enters the fullness of God's Person, the memorial jar of manna will no longer be present nor will Aaron's rod that budded. But the eternal law of God will remain.

The manna represents the daily portion of grace given to us to overcome the evil of each day. This will come to an end when that which is perfect arrives, when we enter the promised inheritance which is the fullness of God and Christ.

The memorial jar of manna, and then Aaron's rod that budded (speaking of the Divine election of the priesthood and also of the eternal life that comes forth as the members of the royal priesthood are crucified with Christ), have both served their purpose. They have transformed our flesh into the law of God.

The law is all-important. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Word of Christ, the moral behavior that He exemplified and preached, shall never pass away.

The Ark of the Covenant was so named because it contained the Covenant, the Ten Commandments.

We must love God above all else.

We must not make idols and worship them.

We must revere God's Name and not use it lightly.

We must serve God and not our own desires.

We must respect and obey authority.

We must live peaceably with people.

We must not embrace relationships not ordained of the Lord.

We must be scrupulously honest.

We must be truthful and compassionate concerning others.

We must be content with what God gives us, not comparing ourselves with others.

These are the ten great areas of moral behavior that are essential for fellowship with God. The Lord Jesus demonstrates them perfectly. Any transgression of them is sin. This is what sin is. Sin is the breaking of the eternal moral law of God.

To be continued.