“Until I went into the sanctuary of God, Then I understood their end” (Ps. 73:17 NKJ).
This verse is an encouragement to attend the house of worship in order to receive answers about life. David had the same questions about good and evil that we do. In Psalm 73 he exposes his pondering thoughts and thus provides us insight into the truth of life and death.
In this psalm, David questions God about why sinners seem to prosper while the righteous are put to severe tests. He admits to having been envious of the boastful when he saw their prosperity as compared with his personal problems, (vv. 3,14). In verse thirteen he reveals his self-pity, wondering if he had made a mistake by following the Lord.
Reasoning carnally, David makes a foolish comparison between the ungodly and the righteous: “They have everything going for them, and we have everything going against us. Are we on the wrong side or the wrong team?”
It is at this point that he goes into the sanctuary. As he views the holy place in which children are dedicated to the Lord, couples are united in marriage, funerals and eulogies are conducted, truth is proclaimed, righteousness explained, holiness displayed. God magnified. His name praised, and His presence manifested, life and death come into proper focus for the psalmist.
In the house of God, David discovers the link between this world and the next. Here he gets the picture of the true believer whose destiny is eternal reward and the non-believer whose future prospect is only eternal condemnation and misery. In the sanctuary we learn so much about life that cannot be learned anywhere else.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.