Two Beginnings

The Israelite had two beginnings in their journey towards the promised good land. The first one was the exodus from Egypt, Exodus 13:4 ,"On this day in the month of Abib you are going out." This is the first day of the first month of the first year. This exodus was for their salvation from the tyranny of Pharoah in Egypt after the experience of the Passover Lamb, typifying our Christian experience of salvation from the tyranny of Satan in the usurpation of the world by experiencing the reality of the Passover Lamb, the redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ! That's the Abib of a Christian life! The experience of God's salvation! Every genuine Christian has this experience.

Later, after one year, as in Exodus 40:17, "And in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was raised up." Then the Israelite had another beginning, after building the tabernacle, God dwelt among them in the Tent of Meeting which was the tabernacle to God. From this time forth, it was a step further to fulfill God's desire of having His building among men. In the same manner, this is the Christian experience of co-working with God for the building up of God's house, the Church, the Body of Christ, after the experience of salvation by the Passover Lamb. The former experience is for the later, and without the later, a Christian experience is incomplete. 

Many Christians are just satisfied with salvation by the Passover Lamb, and little do they know or live the experience of the building of the tabernacle. They are saved from Egypt but roaming in the wilderness far away from the good land. They need the experience of the practical building up of the house of God which is what a Christian life is for. Apart from this, our Christian life is incomplete. Our first beginning of salvation by the Passover Lamb is for the second beginning of building up of the church as God's dwelling place to fulfill God's purpose on the earth. May the Lord lead all His children into these two beginnings.