Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland
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away than <strong>the</strong> Milky Way? Have <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r and <strong>the</strong><br />
Son retired from <strong>in</strong>volvement with human activity<br />
on this planet?<br />
The Bible is so replete with references to<br />
Christ's high-priestly m<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>in</strong> a heavenly<br />
sanctuary that endless books could be written about<br />
it. We can look only briefly.<br />
Israel's ancient sanctuaries built by Moses,<br />
Solomon, Ezra and Nehemiah, and f<strong>in</strong>ally Herod<br />
were never <strong>the</strong> real th<strong>in</strong>g. They were only a type of<br />
"<strong>the</strong> true tabernacle set up by <strong>the</strong> Lord" "<strong>in</strong><br />
heaven." Hebrews 8:1, 2, NIV. All <strong>the</strong> blood of <strong>the</strong><br />
countless animals offered <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> earthly sanctuary<br />
could never suffice to wash away <strong>the</strong> sta<strong>in</strong> of even<br />
one human s<strong>in</strong>. When David committed his<br />
monstrous s<strong>in</strong> of adultery and a cover-up murder,<br />
he knew well enough that no animal sacrifice could<br />
help him <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> least. He prayed, "You do not<br />
delight <strong>in</strong> [such] sacrifice, or I would br<strong>in</strong>g it. ...<br />
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken<br />
and contrite heart." Psalm 51:16, NIV. The only<br />
effective sacrifice was always that offered by "<strong>the</strong><br />
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