The Good Things Here

Hebrews 9:11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.
 
CENTRAL to the Bible is the planned, purposeful ways God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7) This wondrous truth allows us to speak continually of forgiveness and redemption because it is real. We must talk of it. Sin creates a great barrier between us and our relationship with God. Out of darkness has come the Light. And we celebrate Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here.
    Another way to say this is that Jesus came to fulfill the redeeming prophecies of the Old Testament. The blessings we have now in the Christian life are fully available to us through Jesus. God had prepared these good things to distribute to the redeemed when Jesus completed his work.
    We read the good things in Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Jesus spoke from this passage in Luke 4:18-19 in Nazareth when he announced his ministry. Jesus declared God’s good things – redemption, comfort, praise, peace, honor –  were ready, and he had come to deliver them.
    Paul wrote about more gospel good things in Ephesians 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. It is a good thing to become a child of God, isn’t it? Do you ever consider as a Christian you are blessed with every spiritual blessing? This is life eternal. This is God’s happiness, love, joy, hope and kindness. And what great spiritual blessing to know God has chosen you! Can we ever comprehend this side of heaven the good things of a complete, eternal relationship with God because God has made it happen? Jesus is the greater and more perfect tabernacle. “His body is the temple in which the whole majesty of God dwells.” (John Calvin) Jesus has delivered the good things God has prepared for us.