July 27 - Merely a Copy

July 27 - Merely a Copy
Hebrews 8:2, 5; 9:1, 24

We have … a high priest … who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. (Hebrews 8:1-2)

If he (Jesus) were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. (Hebrews 8:5)

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. (Hebrews 9:1)

For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. (Hebrews 9:24)

Sometimes I have difficulty describing in complete detail the images that I have in my mind.  For a writer, that’s a frightening thing.  Sometimes, though, images are indescribable.  I can tell you about the beauty of a rainbow against a darkened sky, but you will see what you have experienced in the past, not necessarily what I am seeing.  I might have forgotten to tell you about the city skyline that fills the lower region of my mind’s picture; that it falls away as I turn to the left.  All that was really important about our communication was the rainbow.  Do I need to tell you the order of the colors in the rainbow?  If I was speaking to someone who had never seen one, would I use the same descriptive words?

When the Lord gave instructions to Moses on how to build the tabernacle, he was describing a real place, his home in heaven.  He asked Moses and the Israelites to build a copy of his home in heaven so that he would have a place to dwell among them as they traveled.

I don’t know if you have a camper or not, but those often become traveling homes for people throughout the summer.  They fill it with items that will remind them of home while they are traveling.

The Lord had to give clear instructions to Moses, in great detail, so that the Israelites could create this home away from home for him as they traveled.  If you spend any time reading through Exodus, you will be absolutely amazed by the intricacy of the tabernacle plans.

However, it wasn’t exactly like the real place in heaven. It never could be.  It was always only a copy.

One other quick connection I’d like to make for you today.  We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26).  We are also now considered to be the temple, or home, of God (1 Cor. 3:16-17).  The Hebrew word used for image in the Genesis passage is that which means replica or copy.  This temple that we are?  It’s also a copy of God’s temple in heaven.  We think that these bodies are the only things we will ever have, but they are a copy that will fade away, back to the dust that was used to create them.  Our true … beautiful … real selves will be found when we stand in the throne room with God.