Sanctuary of GodSanctuary of GodGod Company Sri Lanka

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As a practicing Christian have you sometimes felt that As a practicing Christian have you sometimes felt that life is unfair? When we see people who Sin before our life is unfair? When we see people who Sin before our very eyes, who do wicked deeds unto others… people very eyes, who do wicked deeds unto others… people who carry out all types of Tyranny and Villainy… people who carry out all types of Tyranny and Villainy… people living Godless lives…living Godless lives…

……and we see these absolutely Godless people and we see these absolutely Godless people seeming to do so well in life... !seeming to do so well in life... !

Life is unfair…?!Life is unfair…?!

I’m sure that sometime or the other in our lives I’m sure that sometime or the other in our lives most of us may have had such thoughts traverse most of us may have had such thoughts traverse

through our minds.through our minds.

“ Yes… the Prosperity of the wicked” “ Yes… the Prosperity of the wicked” CAN BE QUITE FRUSTRATING! CAN BE QUITE FRUSTRATING!

22 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;    I had nearly lost my foothold.    I had nearly lost my foothold. 33 For I envied the arrogant For I envied the arrogant    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked   when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  .  

The Prosperity of the wicked….!The Prosperity of the wicked….!

Psalm 73Psalm 73

Thankfully we can observe that, not only us but even the Psalmist Thankfully we can observe that, not only us but even the Psalmist also had such thoughts traverse through his mind…also had such thoughts traverse through his mind…

““For I envied the arrogant For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity when I saw the prosperity of the wicked”of the wicked”… …  

Psalm 73 : 3Psalm 73 : 3

The Psalmist too was frustrated and he says The Psalmist too was frustrated and he says that it caused him nearly loose his foot holdthat it caused him nearly loose his foot holdon his walk with Godon his walk with God

……thereafter the Psalmist goes in to a thereafter the Psalmist goes in to a long description of what he has long description of what he has observed which seems to be a paradox observed which seems to be a paradox of injustice…of injustice…

44 They have no struggles; their They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.bodies are healthy and strong. 5 5 They are free from common They are free from common human burdens; they are not human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. plagued by human ills. 66 Therefore Therefore pride is their necklace; they pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. clothe themselves with violence.

Psalm 73 …Psalm 73 …

Psalm 73 cont…Psalm 73 cont…

7 From their callous hearts comes From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. limits. 88 They scoff, and speak with They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. oppression. 99 Their mouths lay claim to Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. possession of the earth.

In our Day to day life we directly or indirectly come In our Day to day life we directly or indirectly come across Sin and Evil on an ever increasing basis. across Sin and Evil on an ever increasing basis. We also observe the prosperity of the wicked and if We also observe the prosperity of the wicked and if we are not careful, it can begin to make dents in we are not careful, it can begin to make dents in our Faith. It can happen to anybody. We all have our Faith. It can happen to anybody. We all have our human fallibilities.our human fallibilities.

When we see “the prosperity of the wicked” When we see “the prosperity of the wicked” we ask our selves… HOWCOME ? we ask our selves… HOWCOME ?

Psalm 73 Cont…Psalm 73 Cont…

1616 When I tried to understand all this, When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply it troubled me deeply 1717 till I entered till I entered the sanctuary of God;the sanctuary of God; then I then I understood their final destiny.understood their final destiny.

THE UNDERSTANDING… THE UNDERSTANDING… Further down in Psalm 73 we see how the writer comes to terms

with this seemingly unfair situation.

The Sanctuary of God; The Sanctuary of God;

We see that he was able to come to terms We see that he was able to come to terms with the turmoil and frustration that was with the turmoil and frustration that was going on in his head only when he going on in his head only when he ENTERED THE SANCTUARY OF GOD.ENTERED THE SANCTUARY OF GOD.

Heaven can also be referred as a Sanctuary of God. But here the Heaven can also be referred as a Sanctuary of God. But here the Psalmist is referring to Gods sanctuary here on Earth.Psalmist is referring to Gods sanctuary here on Earth.

A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place. A A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place. A place of safety. Therefore Sanctuary of God refers to a place of safety. Therefore Sanctuary of God refers to a sacred place of safety, refuge or asylum. sacred place of safety, refuge or asylum.

When we live a God fearing life we reach a different When we live a God fearing life we reach a different mindset that enables us to see the futility and mindset that enables us to see the futility and repercussions of Godless behaviour. repercussions of Godless behaviour.

The Sanctuary of God the Psalmist refers is the mental The Sanctuary of God the Psalmist refers is the mental transformation that we reach when we live a God fearing transformation that we reach when we live a God fearing life.life.

The Good news is that we as Christians have been The Good news is that we as Christians have been given this wonderful opportunity by Jesus to access given this wonderful opportunity by Jesus to access Gods Sanctuary and to Live a God fearing life with love Gods Sanctuary and to Live a God fearing life with love for one another…for one another…

As Christians we are required to live by example and As Christians we are required to live by example and be a beacon of light in this dark world… be a beacon of light in this dark world…

The Sanctuary of GodThe Sanctuary of God

Matthew 5Matthew 51616 In the same way, let your light shine In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heavendeeds and glorify your Father in heaven

By accepting Jesus as your Savior and by developing an By accepting Jesus as your Savior and by developing an intimate relationship with Him - we are able to come in to intimate relationship with Him - we are able to come in to Gods Sanctuary… right here on Earth Gods Sanctuary… right here on Earth – a new mindset …– a new mindset …a new beginning of a new you! a new beginning of a new you!

A new you that wants to diligently live in keepingA new you that wants to diligently live in keepingwith His teachings and hence will abhor evil and with His teachings and hence will abhor evil and embrace Godliness instead…embrace Godliness instead…

Jesus gave us the possibility of ceasing to walk in the Jesus gave us the possibility of ceasing to walk in the dark alleyways of Sin and begin to walk in Gods path - dark alleyways of Sin and begin to walk in Gods path - that is filled with light - towards our eternal salvation.that is filled with light - towards our eternal salvation.

A new beginning…a New youA new beginning…a New you

Most of us remember the day we Came to Most of us remember the day we Came to Christ…The day that we accepted Jesus as Christ…The day that we accepted Jesus as our Savior. our Savior. Use that day as day one…Look back Use that day as day one…Look back and make an assessment.and make an assessment.

Our Christian Life should have Our Christian Life should have progressed each day towards being a progressed each day towards being a better Christian. better Christian.

By reading, understanding and practicing By reading, understanding and practicing what Jesus has told us, and with His help, we what Jesus has told us, and with His help, we can achieve the discipline and mindset for can achieve the discipline and mindset for living a Righteous life. living a Righteous life.

The day you accepted JesusThe day you accepted Jesus

As Christians our priority is to live a life pleasing to God As Christians our priority is to live a life pleasing to God Therefore prosperity of the wicked will not be a lure or Therefore prosperity of the wicked will not be a lure or attraction because we have chosen to live in the Light…attraction because we have chosen to live in the Light…be a light on to others and draw others to our God by be a light on to others and draw others to our God by making our Christian lives an example. making our Christian lives an example.

Psalm 73 Cont…Psalm 73 Cont…

1616 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply deeply 1717 till I entered the sanctuary of God;till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I then I understood their final destiny.understood their final destiny.

Evil ways of the wicked and their prosperity should not Evil ways of the wicked and their prosperity should not matter or have any effect on the true Christian matter or have any effect on the true Christian mindset. mindset.

99 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1010 For the love For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief. pierced themselves with many grief.

1 Timothy 61 Timothy 6

In Paul's letter to Timothy we can observe some In Paul's letter to Timothy we can observe some advice that he gave Timothyadvice that he gave Timothy

When we walk closely with Jesus we come to the realization that When we walk closely with Jesus we come to the realization that Godless behavior and Evil deeds will lead to our destructionGodless behavior and Evil deeds will lead to our destruction

66 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you you 77 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 88 He will He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. gospel of our Lord Jesus. 99 They will be punished with They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might the Lord and from the glory of his might 1010 on the day he on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.at among all those who have believed.

2 Thessalonians 1

We have solace in this passage…We have solace in this passage…

Thank you

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