The main thing

Hebrews 8:1-2 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. After seven chapters of the letter to the Hebrews, we get to the main point in what has been said. Believers in Jesus Christ have a high priest who sits at the right hand of God and who ministers on their behalf. How often, before listening to this podcast, did you think about how wonderful it is that you have a high priest? So far, this is the main point of this book in the Bible. It must be vital to our faith for us to know this great reality. Several things in this verse should encourage us in our living and loving with Jesus. First, Jesus has taken His seat. That means His work of sacrifice on earth is finished. There’s nothing left for Him to do on earth. The author will make this point again later on. We draw encouragement from this that Jesus’ sacrifice for us was sufficient to save us from all our sins and bring us to God. Second, Jesus sits in the place of authority and rule in the heavens. Remember, Jesus said to His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). We are encouraged that there’s nothing God can’t do in answer to Jesus’ intercession for us. We ask Him to love through us, and we can be confident that the resources needed will be authorized from heaven’s throne. Third, Jesus ministers for us in the highest place, the true sanctuary of God, where the ultimate worship of God exists. Jesus told the woman at the well of the hour in which we live. “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). We are encouraged by this that the love we need to love others comes directly from God Himself as we worship Him in Spirit and truth.  The apostle Paul remarked to the Ephesians that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. If Jesus sits at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, so do we! He is the source of our lives, as Paul wrote of our position in Christ to the Colossians in chapter 3:1-4.  Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. So having a high priest in whom we have our lives is a main thing. Let’s keep our minds fixed on the main thing, namely, us united with Jesus, who is seated in the heavenlies, as we walk in love today with Jesus.