Copies of the Things in Heaven

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Scripture

Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
(Hebrews 9:23 NASB)
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
(Hebrews 9:24 NASB)

 

Observation

The writer of Hebrews continues to make this comparison of the old covenant vs. the new. The old covenant is represented by the Temple -- which is referred to as a copy "of the things in the heavens." The outer and inner chambers of the Temple represented how humanity was able to enter into an intimate relationship with God. It was difficult because only the High Priest could enter into the very intimate chamber, the Holy of Holies once a year, and a sacrifice had to be made. However, when Christ came and made his own personal sacrifice he didn't pass into the human copy of things in the heavens, but instead, he entered the real Holy of Holies -- the intimate inner presence of the Father himself. This is where Jesus resides today and this is why he can and does constantly intercede for us. No longer is the copy of the things in heaven necessary -- instead Jesus is the real deal!

 

Application

We tend to love replicas of famous things. Small statues and momentos of items are sold around the world. We can purchase a miniature Leaning tower of Pisa or the Gateway Arch -- taking them home as a memory of a pleasant journey. However, those small replicas are simply that -- they are replicas of something much greater. In the same way the Temple was a replica -- a much smaller one -- of something incredible that existed within the kingdom of God. The place of intimacy, the Holy of Holies only provided a small glimpse of what God intended for all of humanity. On the grand scale, the Holy of Holies is a place where the Father and the Son in their holiness fill the space and are constantly interceding and reaching out to their lost children.

Sadly, too often we are satisfied with the replicas of things in the heavenlies when it comes to our spiritual lives. It is just "enough" to go to church on a Sunday and enjoy the presence of the Lord, but to genuinely get to that place of intimacy with him on a daily basis can make us uncomfortable. We are comfortable with the copies of the things that are in heaven when Christ's sacrifice has made it possible for us to enjoy the real thing! We don't have to put up with copies, but instead we can come to the place of deeper intimacy with Christ and we can enjoy the real deal in the here and now. Christ, through his sacrifice has made this possible and is inviting us into this relationship with him. What is required of us is vulnerability and a willingness to be in a deeper relationship with him. When that happens we become partakers of the divine nature and in doing so we are able to share in what he is already experiencing in the true Holy of Holies.

 

Prayer

Lord, thank you for what you have done for us and the sacrifice which you have made. Please, help me this day to walk in the ways which you have prepared and continue to draw me toward you. Amen.

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