Ezekiel 20 / Hebrews 9:11-28 / Psalm 107 / Proverbs 27:11
You’ve probably heard someone say that the Spirit realm is more real than the natural realm. I’ve heard that said. Maybe they don’t mean “more real”. Perhaps they intend to agree that the Spirit realm is everlasting while the earth and the natural realm will one day pass away. Yes, scripture says that our current heaven and earth will pass away and that a new heaven and earth will be brought down from Heaven. (Revelation 21:1)
Along these same lines, when God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle while the descendants of Israel wandered in the desert, it was with the understanding that God was having the people build a replica of the dwelling place of God in Heaven. I’ve heard other parallels that suggest that the things we see on the earth are replicas of what exists in Heaven.
I’ve heard some say the Garden of Eden is a replica. Fascinating! I do believe God desires to meet with us and walk with us like He did Adam and Even before sin entered the world. I hope you’re hearing Him as He draws your heart into that place. There is nothing sweeter than to sit in God’s presence and exchange conversation with Him. You’ll hear the most amazing and beautiful things!
Today, as I read in Hebrews 9, I was in awe of the description of Jesus entering the tabernacle in Heaven by the means of His own perfect blood. (Please read Hebrews 9:11-28 from the devotional today!). We are so far removed from the Old Testament and the historical account of having to offer animal sacrifices for sin. I’m thankful we no longer operate under that covenant.
Reading about the old covenant and all it required makes me even more thankful for the willing sacrifice of Jesus on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven. I realize that the topic of a blood sacrifice being required also seems odd to many. If you’ll remember the first blood sacrifice required for the first sin; Adam and Eve listened to the serpent and ate from the forbidden tree. Once they ate, they realized they were naked: their sin-nature was awakened, and they needed to be clothed.
God killed an animal to cover them and so, it began. I won’t dive too deeply into the counterfeit but will only mention that the devil has his own copycat forms of blood sacrifice. Perhaps some are aware of this, and some are not. I will not go into any detail to give no glory to the enemy. Suffice it to say, that the devil copies everything God originates. Always keep that in mind when studying scripture and when looking at practices today.
Let’s look at the imagery of verse eleven together; it’s too beautiful not to mention! “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands…”
Then look at verse twenty-three: “It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” And verse twenty-four: “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one, He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. New International Version (NIV).
That last part destroys my heart; in a good way! Jesus Christ entered heaven and appeared before God for us! If that doesn’t humble you to your knees… No more blood sacrifices were required after that. Jesus Christ paid the debt for our sin in full. I don’t have to do anything except believe and declare the Name of Jesus Christ.
He is my Savior and Lord, and He has made me His beloved. I don’t know that any of us fully realizes the gift we have been given. But I pray that as you read, Holy Spirit will reveal the Father’s heart to you. May you be overwhelmed by His love today.
