According to the Pattern

Kent E. Heaton Sr.

A pattern is anything designed as a guide or model for making things. Patterns are used to build houses, make clothing and create everything produced. In building a house, a blueprint is made from the idea the person has in mind and from this pattern, the house is built. In the blueprint are the specifications determining the size of the house, where the doors, windows and rooms are placed with all the other specifications regarding wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling. The builder takes these blueprints or patterns and builds the house according. The expectation of the person wanting the house built is the builder will follow the specifications determined by the pattern. Industry relies solely upon the reproduction of a particular pattern to mass produce a certain item. The confidence of the manufacture is that when a pattern is followed in complete detail, the product will turn out the same every time. Any deviation to the pattern is rejected.

The Hebrew writer says, "For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant ..." (Hebrews 3:4,5). The nature of something that is built is that it is built by someone. The Hebrew writer affirms that God has made all things. Moses is shown as an example of faithfulness and one of the ways that Moses shows his faithfulness to God is by building something as God directed. He was instructed by God in Exodus 25 to build the Tabernacle: "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it."

God shows in this passage five things about how He wanted the tabernacle to be built. First, God had a plan - this is God's plan not man's. Second, God revealed His plan to Moses to build the Tabernacle. Third, the plan to build the Tabernacle was specific. Read Exodus 25-28 to see the details given for the Tabernacle and its furnishings. Fourth, God expected Moses to follow the pattern given to him. "And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain ... And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain." (Exodus 25:40; 26:30). Fifth, Moses had a choice! He could build the Tabernacle as God specified or he could add or subtract what he thought necessary. The faithfulness of Moses was seen Exodus 39:32 - "Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did." This pattern is how God instructed Noah to build the Ark and Solomon to build the Temple and shows that He builds things the same way. He has a plan, the plan is revealed to man, the plan is specific, He expects man to follow the plan and man shows his faithfulness by following the specific plan.

When God built the church, He used the same pattern of revelation. He had a plan (Ephesians 3:8-11) - He revealed the plan (Ephesians 3:1-5) -The plan was specific in its design, beginning, organization, worship, law, authority, work, mission - God expects man to follow the plan today (Luke 6:46-49) - Man has a choice, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it;" Is God pleased with religious division today? The reason for religious division is man has not followed the pattern of the covenant of Christ and built their own churches. The church Jesus died for is found in complete revelation in His new covenant. Without following that pattern, the church does not exist. "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted." (Matthew 15:13).