Copies and shadows reveal reality

Hebrews 8:4-5 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” The Law designated the tribe of Levi to minister in the tabernacle and temple. We are told here that the structure, order, and services in the tabernacle and temple were copies and shadows of heavenly things. The earthly sanctuary showed something about the true or real sanctuary in heaven that we could not know otherwise. It was also a shadow of the true sanctuary. A shadow has no substance, but it exists because the substance or true thing exists. For example, when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, a shadow is cast on the earth where it blocks the light of the sun. This could only happen if there was a real object between the sun and the earth.  Jesus did not serve as a priest when he was on earth. He was from the tribe of Judah, and not Levi. However, the author’s point was that the earthly priests and their duties in the earthly sanctuary revealed Jesus and His ministry in the heavenlies. Everything in the tabernacle speaks of Christ.  Sometimes, when a business makes a new hire, they ask the new employee to “shadow” someone they are going to work with or replace. They follow them throughout the day to learn the job skills and processes. Moses apparently got to “shadow” Jesus in the heavenlies while he was on Mount Sinai. There he saw the realities in the heavenlies and the worship of God. From seeing the real thing, he was directed to make an earthly copy or shadow of what he saw. The Law, with its designs, practices, statutes, and laws, was the result. It was never meant to be the truth and the life because it was a temporary revelation of the worship of God.  Dear friends, beloved of God, our Lord Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the substance, the real thing. He is the true man. We are the copies of the true man. He is the true God; we show forth the reality that God exists as we live on earth in the life of Jesus Christ, who is in heaven. Our lives should be shadows of His life. Everything in the heavenlies expresses the love of God, for He is love. May we cast a shadow of His love on the earth as we interact with people so they will know that Jesus really lives.