Even novice Arkansas hikers know the name Tim Ernst.   Nature photographer and bushwhacker, Ernst penned the authorized canon of trail guides to Arkansas’ most glorious hikes, waterfalls, swimming holes, and vistas.  Organized by region, difficulty, and attraction and filled with easy-to-follow directions, his guides are a non-negotiable for the hiking newbie and the experienced trekker.

In his guides, Ernst introduces readers to his favorite shorthand waypoint – the SSS, or super special spot.   These are the spots on the trail that make the sweat, the climb, the pests, and the stream crossings all worth it.   Places which take your breath away and make even the hardened atheist doubt his creed.  Places where struggle is converted to glory, peace, and joy.

Most of us have SSSs.  Places where grief, adversity, doubt, and loneliness emerge from the dark forest into a spreading vista of grace, peace, fellowship and faith.   Perhaps it is your home or a favorite spot in the woods, or even an old song or voice of a loved one – SSSs that take us from miry pit to solid rock.  Places of respite for the body, mind, soul and spirit.  Those with no such places of refuge plod through life like the shades of Greek mythology or the wraiths of Tolkien’s tales.  

God made us to need such places as we pass like pilgrims through this world.  Scripture reminds us that this life is not our destination, not our home.  In Philippians, Paul notes, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”   And the author of Hebrews writes of Abraham, “he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”  And of all the saints.

[T]hat they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11:14-16

But until we reach that city, God has given an SSS for weekly reminders of what we are made for and where we are headed.   Among all the furnishings, furniture, and fittings of the ancient Tabernacle, God gave instructions for a large gathering spot – an SSS for his people.  A place to draw near, to gather, to experience grace, peace, fellowship and faith in the midst of a wilderness filled with grief, adversity, doubt, and loneliness.  A heavenly SSS on earth.  A foretaste of the ‘better country.’  A place of rest and refuge in a dry in weary land.

The courts of the Lord are for the people.  A place of gathering and grace.   A place to touch the sacred in the midst of the profane.   A tethering spot to ground us in the eternal.   The place the psalmists longed to be.   The place whose misuse made Jesus so angry that he braided a cord of whips to clear it out so the lame, weary and the blind could come in.  A place of prayer for all nations.  God delights for his people to draw near. And he has made provision for the church in all ages to do so.  His Sabbaths are to be our delight and his people are called to gather on his sabbaths to find a feast of grace, rest, peace, fellowship and faith.  

The gathering of God’s people for corporate worship is the paradigmatic super special spot.   Long before Tim Ernst introduced us to the stunning vistas of our native state, the Lord God appointed a super special spot, a vista for his people to draw near to the ‘beauty of holiness’ in the middle of the desert of sin.  And our gracious God has given us such a place in his house on his day.  Is the gathering of the saints on the Lord’s Day an SSS for you?   Is the beauty of the Lord’s house the vista you most desire?  

Join us this Lord’s Day as we examine Exodus 27:9-21 and consider one of the most glorious features of the Tabernacle, the super special spot God appointed both for his ancient people and for us.  We meet on the square in Pottsville, right next to historic Potts’ Inn at 10:30 am for worship.  Get directions here or contact us for more info.  Or join us on Facebook Live @PottsvilleARP or YouTube.