What I mean by proximity being measured by frequency is that when we are not functioning in our priesthood, we are moving away from the Altar simply by natural laws of centrifugal force. The Altar/priesthood/stewardship is the hub of the wheel. When there, we are abiding there, we are not affected by that force which draws us away from the center. But when we are not functioning, we are carried out from the hub by the tides of life.
If frequency (visits per hour or even visits per week) wanes, then the brightness of our hope fades... contact and proximity matters. We don't have to actively wander from the altar for this to happen... lack of frequency will reduce proximity too... just by neglect and the effects of undertow or centrifugal force. Wandering just reduces proximity that much faster. Like swimming aggressively away from the shore makes it harder to identify the spot on the beach from which you entered the water.
So then, we show wisdom by keeping our vessels full of faith, not putting aside opportunities to function as porters at the gate of the temple but taking every thought captive. This means we are taking every thought and weighing it upon the scale of the sanctuary against the standard of God's throne. When we let them go unmeasured, we grow jaded in our thinking as they begin to multiply and gather around our gates... and we begin to feel as if we are under siege by them… which is correct… and that clouds thinking, removes focus, and soon we find thoughts wandering in and out freely though our gates.
When we take thoughts captive by taking the time to weigh them and measure them on the King’s scales, we are not giving them freedom of expression. We are also, with great frequency, drawing nigh unto God (for His Altar/Priesthood/Stewardship is the scale).
This is why faith cannot stand without a priesthood sanctified by the altar of Christ. We cannot build our own. For if we were to introduce anything less than Christ to our service of faith, we would be forced to use our own scale (For the Lord will not grant access to His scales without perfect faith. While we may be neglecting our gates, He does not neglect His.)
(1 Thessalonians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Numbers 3:4, 2 Chronicles 26:14-21) (View these on BibleGateway.com: http://bg4.me/11Tapvb)
Order your copy of the book, "Pure Praise" today! http://amzn.to/ZgLIai
Check out our free lessons in the Priesthood and Prophecy Series: http://bit.ly/13wAvHc
