Fading or Lasting

 DEVOTION

TO HEBREWS

FADING OR LASTING

Heb 9:1-15

9:1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 6 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. 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. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance — now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

NIV

Things that are made by men will someday fade away, but that which is made by God is eternal and will never fade away. This is the story of that which was made as instructed by God under the old covenant. Even the tabernacle and all the furniture made of fine gold and the ark of the covenant with all its glory did not last. What happened to that tent of meeting where Moses met with God face to face no one knows, it is gone, completely disappeared from the face of the earth. Then when Solomon was instructed to build a more permanent temple made of stone, tiles, and much gold with its thickly woven curtain dividing the holy of holies from the rest of the temple, it too was destroyed and disappeared from the face of the earth, in fact, even the ark, with its mercy seat and all its belongings is lost, never to be found anywhere. It is interesting how we people build so many things thinking we have built them to last. Even though, indeed, some of the ancient structures like the great pyramids of Egypt will someday fade away from the face of the earth. Everything that has been done under the old covenant is no more because it was only temporary and never accomplished the will of God totally and eternally. However, Jesus accomplished it all and did so for all eternity. We serve a high priest who entered the heavenly Holy of Holies and sat down at the right hand of the Father. All sacrifices, all the actions or works of men, sprinkling the blood of animals came to an end. There is nothing more we can do to atone for our sins, for anything man ever did was temporary and useless. However, what Jesus did was perfect, useful, and complete in satisfying everything needed for the eternal atonement for our sins. Why then do we still think that we must do something to gain holiness? Why do we continue to think our works of good deeds have any value to our salvation? Perhaps our thinking is that because we believe and want to serve our Lord through works gives us some reward in heaven. Maybe we work because James tells us that our faith is dead without work. But, at best our work can only be temporary for our lives in this world are temporary. Our works will not last, just like the tabernacle or the temple lasted, all things will fade away, except what Jesus did. Our lives are secure in Jesus. Our lives are permanent in Jesus. Our lives will last forever because of Jesus, and so our faith in Jesus is all that will count in the heavenly realms as we enter the place Jesus prepared for us. Our faithfulness is not dependent on that which will not last, but only in our faith which will last forever, because we have faith in our eternal High Priest, Jesus.