One of the greatest blessings of the Christian gospel is the eternal security of the believer.
Speaking of His sheep, Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (Jn 10:28). The eternal life we are given, strange as it may seem, really is eternal! And in the picture of how carefully the gems representing God’s people were attached to the high priest, we see that security. Listen: “joined together…intricately woven…engrave…set them in settings…set them in settings…two braided chains of gold…fasten…bind…so that the breastplate does not come loose from the ephod” (Ex 28:7-28). All different Hebrew words, many used multiple times, they portray how safe we are. How safe? “Your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:3-4). God doesn’t put new life in our hands. If so, we might spoil it the way we did our old life. Instead, He gives us Christ: “Christ…is our life.” The only way I could lose this life would be if God lost Christ. Preposterous! He, our great High Priest, is the One who secures us, praise His holy name! Now this cloth breastplate was made twice as long as it was wide, and then folded up to make a pouch. We read, “You shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord” (Ex 28:30). Ah, God’s will is discerned near His heart! These were likely two differing objects, gems perhaps. When a question requiring a “yes” or “no” was asked of God, these determined the result (see Num 27:21; Josh 7:14-18; 1 Sam 23:2, 4; 2 Sam 21:1; Ezra 2:63; Neh 7:65). Urim and Thummim mean “Lights” and Perfections.” What a beautiful way to describe the “good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2) for His people!