The Sanctuary: A Model for the Human Heart
“Let them make me for me a sanctuary so that I may live among them.” Exodus 25:8, NET
Moses had a face to face conversation with God at the summit of Mount Sinai, where he was given not only the Ten Commandments but the blueprint of the sanctuary. In a radical display of intimacy, quite different than other gods known at that time, God wanted to be close to his people, to live among them.   Taking the blueprint from the heavenly sanctuary, God gave specific instructions about how to build this edifice, including exact dimensions and the order in which the entire structure and parts were to be assembled.   Recognizing how 400 years of slavery had dulled the senses of the nation, God wanted to give a visible representation of just how close he wanted to be to them and to unveil the plan of salvation to them.  Every time they gazed upon the sanctuary, they were reminded of the plan that God would substitute his son for the sinful race and what God purposed for his children in their hearts.  Everything about the sanctuary spoke of the ministry of Christ to the fallen human race, including the building and all of its furnishings.  
The sanctuary was divided into three principal areas: the outer court, surrounded by the white curtains.  Within the outer court, the tabernacle itself was placed with its two compartments, the holy place and the most holy place.  In the outer court, the altar of burnt offering where animals were sacrificed and the laver which is a large basin made of brass where the priests would wash their hands and feet before offering a sacrifice can be found. In the holy place, the table of showbread and the seven-branched candlestick which both represent Jesus as the living bread and the light of the world, respectively, can be seen. There is also a third, the altar of incense, which represents the prayers of God’s people. In the holiest place, the only object present was the Ark of the Covenant which was covered by the mercy seat. The Ten Commandments were found Inside the Ark of the Covenant, important laws to be followed by the people of God. Later, Aaron’s budded rod that was used to guide the Israelites during their exodus, and eventually proved God had indeed called Moses and Aaron was placed inside the ark as well as manna. (Hebrews 9:4).
Today, the old rituals associated with the sanctuary such as the sacrificing of animals are not practiced. Christians are now reminded that we are the temple where God wants to dwell (See I Cor 6:19-20),  I Thess 5:23 states that God wants to cleans our spirit soul and body, which may be viewed as analogous to the outer court (the body) holy place (the mind) the most holy place (the spirit or the heart). God wants to be close to us, his children, so close that he dwells inside of each of us who invite him in, and sets about the work of setting our lives aright with him.  As the sanctuary of old demonstrated, one must come to the door of the outer court and the blood of the sacrificial lamb paved the way to the most holy place to understand the love of God.  Today the blood of Jesus has restored full relationship with God.  We can boldly enter into the throne of grace to find healing there.  Like the sanctuary of old, God wants to cleanse the sanctuary of our hearts so we can enjoy the oneness with God that he has always sought.