What is a sanctuary?

There are various kinds of sanctuaries. For example, a bird sanctuary is a place where birds are safely kept for people to enjoy. The birds are safe there; nothing can harm them—neither human hunters nor animal foes. It is a place of refuge or safety.

The word “sanctuary” comes from the Latin word sanctus, meaning “holy,” which gives us a picture of something being “set apart.”

Suppose you have a big box of apples or peaches. If you have ever noticed, if one of the peaches in the box gets mold on it, very soon the other peaches touching it will also start to spoil very quickly. Unless the bad peaches are removed, it won’t be long before the entire box will rot!

This is why our Creator taught His ancient people that in order for things to stay pure and without spoilage, they need to be kept separate.

God is pure and holy—not like the rebellious world. So He asked His people to make Him “a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). God does not need to worry about becoming spoiled by coming close to us. But since we are not perfect, we need to come apart from the rebellious world in order to understand more about Him in His innocence and purity.

The true sanctuary of God is in heaven, but thankfully even on earth there are places set apart for His faithful people to meet with Him. Today, there are quiet sanctuaries where our Creator can say to our heart, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

The sanctuary service of the Old Testament teaches us how to approach our Maker in reverence and awe. Our sins and defects block us from being able to see the Lord, but wherever we live, He still invites us to come to His house on earth. It is a sacred place.

“True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the Unseen the heart of every child should be deeply impressed. The hour and place of prayer and the services of public worship the child should be taught to regard as sacred because God is there.”—Education, pp. 242, 243).

But there is still another point: Remember, too, that God also has promised to live in your heart. He says, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

If you invite Jesus into your heart, He will be pleased to dwell there, too! And since He is bigger than you, His vibrant love will also spill out from you to others in smiles, kind words, and good deeds. What a beautifully perfect plan!