A Place of Strength and Beauty
“Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.” (Psalm 96:6)
1 John 5:19 says, “…the whole world lieth in wickedness.” If you want to live for the Lord, the world can be a discouraging place that wears down your strength and resolve. Yet the Bible says, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;” (Isaiah 40:31) Even when you feel your strength is depleted, your strength can be renewed. The place to renew your strength, as our verse says, is God’s sanctuary. This is a reference to a Bible-believing church.
A Bible-believing church is where people go in a group setting to praise and thank God: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power.” (Psalm 150:1) “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.” (Psalm 134:2) “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:” (Psalm 100:4)
It is also a place where people hear God’s word preached: “And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them (Paul and his helpers), saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” (Acts 13:15)
The Bible is far more than a huge volume of “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots.” It is God’s truth: “Thy word is true from the beginning:” (Psalm 119:160)It is God’s word to guide us: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) It has words to refresh us when we are weary: “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary:” (Isaiah 50:4)
The Bible gives us words of hope: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) It gives us words of comfort, especially in tough times: “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” (Psalm 119:49)
The Bible also reminds us to keep our focus on the Lord: “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
A Bible-believing church is also where people are exhorted and encouraged to follow Jesus’ command to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) A Bible-believing church is a place to be involved in reaching people with the good news of Jesus.
It is also a place to meet people who encourage you in your Christian life. “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:” (Proverbs 13:20) Some “church people” may not be a good influence by how they act, but the Bible is still true and church is still important. Some police officers also may not be a good influence by how they act, but police work is still important.
Most importantly, a Bible-believing church is where people hear how to have their sins forgiven and eternal life in heaven by receiving Jesus as their personal Saviour. Please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?” to learn more.
Brian Miller 11/3/2024
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822