To the Holy Place

Hebrews 9:6-10 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings – external regulations applying until the time of the new order.  
 
HOW do you enter the Most Holy Place – the place where you are in complete union with the Holy Trinity? Hebrews wanted the Jews to understand there is more  than the physical furnishings of the Most Holy Place God established in the Old Covenant. There is a new, personal and eternal place to be with God. To us this should be obvious. We know Jesus is the way through the Holy Spirit into God’s holy presence. But do we really understand God’s spiritual pathway to him? Or are our eyes too focused on the physical church?  
    For example, when you look at the furnishings in the church today, what do you see? Perhaps there is a cross, and maybe your church has a pulpit or other podium where the preacher delivers his sermon. Do you have a communion table? Some churches have lighted candles near the pulpit during worship. What other furnishings, decorations and ceremonies might be important to your church?
    Why do these exist? Do they represent the gospel to you? Is the pulpit a place from which God’s true Word is spoken? Are the lighted candles a reminder of God’s Word lighting the world? Is the communion table a continual remembrance of Jesus’ body broken, his blood shed to cover your sin?
    In truth you don’t need these furnishings to see Jesus, do you? You simply need the gospel preached and the sacraments of baptism and communion administered. Yes, the cross, the pulpit, the lights and the communion table help us remember who Jesus is. But these objects do not complete Jesus’ saving work. Jesus did. And in the Holy Spirit’s power you have access to your place alongside Jesus in the heavenly tabernacle.
           Once more we praise God the old covenant is complete. The temple furnishings are no longer needed because Jesus has personally come to be the Way to heaven.