More valuable than gold
Live to Love Scripture Encouragement - Een podcast door Norm Wakefield

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Hebrews 9:3-5 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail. If you haven’t listened to the previous Live to Love Scripture encouragement podcast, I hope you’ll do so before listening to today’s podcast. We learned that Jesus has eliminated the holy place and given us direct access into the presence of God. What an encouragement! Today’s verse described the Holy of Holies, a second tent within the sanctuary. Let’s remember that God’s ultimate glory is to bring the worshipper into His presence with right standing and a clear conscience. The Holy of Holies was the one place on earth where the glory of God dwelled on the earth prior to the coming of Jesus Christ. The author wanted to show the glory of the physical home for God under the first covenant; therefore, he emphasized what was made of gold. In fact, everything was covered in gold. It was certainly impressive and glorious. However, the author didn’t speak of all the details because that wasn’t his point. The point he was making was that the first covenant, even in all of its physical glory, was made obsolete by Jesus because it was only a copy and therefore insufficient to reveal the fullness of God’s glory. Remember, the worshipper never personally entered the holy place or the holy of holies. The priests could not bring the worshipper into the presence of God. That sanctuary with its divine regulations has been made obsolete. Now, the very least in the kingdom of God sees and experiences the glory of God to a greater degree than the greatest high priest in the earthly sanctuary. Paul wrote in Colossians 3 that if we have been raised up with Christ, our lives are hidden with Him in God (Col. 3:1-4). We actually live in the Holy of Holies, the real thing! Our life is to be found in Christ, so our minds are to be set there. As things happen in our day and as people cross our paths, if we abide in the Holy of Holies with Jesus, He manifests His life in and through us in this world. We are the lamp, and He is the light. We are containers, receptacles of God. We are the house of Israel, for that’s what the name Israel means. Paul wrote that when Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then we will be revealed with Him in glory. The glory of God was represented in the Holy of Holies, but the hope we have in Jesus is that in Him, we are the glory of God. As we love with Jesus, our lives should show forth the glory of God like the gold in the Holy of Holies did. Think of it this way. As Jesus’ love flows through you, you become more valuable than gold, and He gets the glory.